Written and directed by Whit Stillman, Damsels in Distress is the story of a transfer student who arrives at a university where she becomes part of a small group of women where they deal with the men in their lives. The film marks the return of Whit Stillman after a thirteen-year gap between films as he once again explores the world of young adults except in a new environment and with a new set of rules. Starring Greta Gerwig, Analeigh Tipton, Adam Brody, Hugo Becker, Megan Echikunwoke, Carrie MacLemore, and Ryan Metcalf. Damsels in Distress is a delightful comedy from Whit Stillman.
College life is a place where people go in the search to find themselves while finding ways to enjoy life. In this film, it revolves around three young women who take in a young transfer student as they deal with the pratfalls of love as well as trying to find ways to make life better no matter how bad things are. Leading the pack is Violet (Greta Gerwig) who is a sociable junior who runs a suicide prevention center with her two roommates Rose (Megan Echikunwoke) and Heather (Carrie MacLemore). The three women are known for their fashion sense and keen observation about the world of college life as they take in sophomore transfer student Lily (Analeigh Tipton) to be part of their group. Still, both Violet and Lily do get involved with some men in their lives as it makes things complicated where they each have two different ideas on how to deal with depression and disappointment where Violet doesn’t want to give in to the idea that she’s depressed.
Whit Stillman’s screenplay definitely recalls a lot of his past works where characters discuss about their roles in life and what is ahead yet things are different this time around as it’s all set in a university in the American east coast. Violet is definitely a unique individual who had been through some tough times in her life but always try to find someway to keep her spirits up. Yet, a new challenge involving someone she was with forces her to go into a tailspin until she finds something that she believes could help out get out of that tailspin. Lily is the outsider in the film as she is someone who has just transferred to a new school as she is in love with a European man in Xavier (Hugo Becker) while finding herself attracted to a man named Charlie (Adam Brody) whom Violet is suddenly attracted to.
This would eventually cause tension between Violet and Lily for much of the film’s second half where Lily is having a more active social life though she still wants to be friends with Violet. Violet however, wants to do things to help herself with the help of the sweet Heather and the more cynical Rose as she gets the idea to start a dance craze in the hopes to get people’s spirits up. Even as Violet uses the suicide prevention building as a way for people to dance so that they wouldn’t feel suicidal though some dispute Violet’s beliefs. Another interesting aspect about the film are the way men portrayed where there are those like Charlie who is a unique individual who is just trying to find himself. There are some men who are quite dim but they do offer something that gives them more to do while Xavier is this passionate European who is going through a crisis of identity and spirituality as he would later trouble Lily.
Stillman’s direction is definitely a bit different from his previous work as it’s much broader in some places while maintaining that air of intimacy that he’s been known for. Notably as Stillman goes farther away from the cities to something much more confined but still wild in the world of colleges. Notably as it involves some strange realm of social circles such as frat houses and dorms that are notorious for being very smelly. The world of Violet and her friends is quite different but also simple as they do live in dorms while being observers around their environment. While Stillman’s film is a light-hearted comedy with some low-key aspects of drama. There is something in the film that adds an element of escapism which is in the form of musicals.
With the help of choreographer Justin Cerne, Stillman uses dance as a way to help express Violet’s desire to make people feel better. Even as she attempts to start a new dance craze known as the Sambola which is this a mixture of all sorts of dances rolled into one. That element of the musical definitely gives the film a much more livelier feel as it expresses Violet’s desire to make the world much better. Even if it involves something as simple as the scent of a bar of soap that proves to be a wonderfully effective use of comedy. Overall, Stillman creates a truly splendid and fun film that explores a young woman’s desire to make college life better for the world with some help from her friends.
Cinematographer Doug Emmett does some fantastic work with the film‘s colorful cinematography from the sunny exteriors in the campus to some of the more straightforward look in some of the film‘s interior scenes. Editor Andrew Hafitz does nice work with the editing to create some stylish cuts for some of the more light-hearted moments along with some straight cuts in the dramatic portions of the film. Production designer Elizabeth J. Jones, along with set decorator Emmanuelle Hoessly and art director Brian Goodwin, does terrific work with the look of the campuses and places nearby to express a world that is thriving but also being troubled by a dorm that is known for being grungy and smelly.
Costume designer Ciera Wells is absolutely a highlight of the film from the colorful yet bright dresses Violet, Rose, and Heather wear to the more straight-laced look of Lily while they also delve into more stylish clothing as the clothes really add a nuance to the film‘s look. Sound editor Tom Paul does excellent work with the sound to capture the atmosphere of some of the party scenes as well as some of the intimate moments in the conversations. The film’s music by Mark Suozzo and Adam Schlesinger is brilliant for its playful use of piano-based music with a bit of jazz and rock into the mix to play out the world of college life along with some original music such as the Sambola song. Music supervisor Annie Pearlman creates a soundtrack that features a wide range of music from rock, 90s dance, and show tunes to establish Violet’s urge for escapism.
The casting by Kerry Barden, Anya Colloff, Amy McIntyre Britt, and Paul Schnee is incredible as it features appearances from two of Stillman’s old regulars in Carolyn Farina as a diner waitress and Taylor Nichols as a professor. Other small roles include Alia Shawkat as a student annoyed by Violet’s tap dancing, Aubrey Plaza as a depressed student who often attends the suicide center, Zach Woods as an elitist editor of the school’s paper, Meredith Hagner as Xavier’s old girlfriend Alice, Jermaine Crawford as a friend of the girls who helps them in the suicide center, and Caitlin Fitzgerald as a suicidal student the girls save only to unknowingly betray Violet. Ryan Metcalf and Billy Magnussen are very funny as two dim-witted frat boys who are friends of the girls with Metcalf as an old boyfriend of violet who feels bad for what he did while Magnussen is the more innocent of the two as he is admittedly ignorant but in a sweet way.
Hugo Becker is excellent as the European student Xavier who is confused over his own identity as well as his feelings for Lily. Adam Brody is terrific as Charlie as a well-dressed playboy who is still trying to figure himself out while gaining the attraction of both Violet and Lily. Carrie MacLemore is wonderful as the very sweet Heather who always tries to figure out what to do while she creates an idea that would later prove to be very helpful. Megan Echikunwoke is superb as the British student Rose who is sort of the cynic of the four while trying to figure out how to help everyone else with these issues. Analeigh Tipton is remarkable as Lily as a young transfer student trying to figure out Violet’s view on the world while dealing with her own dating life. Finally, there’s Greta Gerwig in a fabulous performance as Violet as a woman eager to make the world a better place while trying to confront her own issues with men and the world as it’s really a performance that is just so much fun to watch.
Damsels in Distress is a sensational film from Whit Stillman. Armed with a great cast led by Greta Gerwig, it’s a film that explores the world of college life and those trying to find themselves in that environment. It’s also a film that explores a young woman’s desire to create a world for herself that she feels is being bogged down while trying to deal with the pratfalls of love with the women in her life. In the end, Damsels in Distress is a marvelous film from Whit Stillman.
Whit Stillman Films: Metropolitan - Barcelona - The Last Days of Disco - Love & Friendship - The Auteurs #21: Whit Stillman
© thevoid99 2013
Written and directed by Whit Stillman, Barcelona is the story of two American men who go to Barcelona who deal with cultural differences in Spain as it’s emerging in the aftermath of Fascist-Spain while falling for the women in the country. It’s a film that explores men’s idea about women as well as about themselves in a foreign land. Starring Taylor Nichols, Chris Eigeman, Mira Sorvino, and Tushka Bergen. Barcelona is a charming yet captivating film from Whit Stillman.
In the scheme of finding the right person in life, there is always an idea about what that person should be. For the film’s protagonist in Ted Boynton (Taylor Nichols), it’s about someone who isn’t physically attractive but rather someone who offers something more. Yet, he goes into a lot of his challenges as an American salesman living in Barcelona who is already going through issues in his work thinking he’s about to be fired. Adding to the complication is the unexpected arrival of his cousin Fred (Chris Eigeman) who is a U.S. naval officer trying to handle public relations for the U.S. who are having issues with Spain. While the two men contend with each other over their own ideas of the world while trying to handle this sense of anti-American attitude towards them. They still are able to find women they’re attracted to in Marta (Mira Sorvino) and Montserrat (Tushka Bergen) only to find ways to ruin these relationships through acts of confusion, selfishness, and misplaced idealism.
Whit Stillman’s screenplay is set in the early 1980s where Spain has just come out of post-Francisco Franco era just as it was transitioning to a more democratic state. Yet, the film opens with an American library being bombed that is inter-cut with images of Barcelona in a modern setting while someone throws a stone at an IBM computer store. For Fred who is waiting for his fleet to arrive, he is shocked by this wave of anti-American propaganda that is emerging thinking he is going to help smooth relations. Yet, he is believed to be a spy for the CIA as he is just trying to understand what is happening while being in a relationship with Marta. Still, the story is told largely from Ted’s perspective as he is this neurotic salesman who has done good but is receiving some terrible news that he thinks will lead to his termination.
Upon meeting Montserrat, Ted believes he has found someone that just doesn’t exude the qualities he wants in a woman but is also someone who is incredibly attractive. Yet, she is dating an anti-American journalist named Ramon (Pepe Munne) who writes all of these things that Americans did forcing Ted to finally lash out. It would eventually cause him trouble as it would Fred who becomes paranoid. Still, there are many complications for these two cousins who detest each other at times as Fred is more outgoing while Ted is an introvert. Even as they both have to deal with a lot of the tension towards them as Americans where Europeans despise their consumerist attitudes and other ideals. While Fred tries to defend these ideals, he also believes that maybe the Europeans are right about the Americans though Ted isn’t as sure. The script would change its tone a bit in the third act in a moment that brings the two men together but also provide revelations about everything they had been facing.
Stillman’s direction is truly engaging for the way early 1980s Barcelona is presented with this mixture of a very modern Europe coming into the world with women walking around in red coats while being inter-cut with images of anti-American attitudes. There are some amazing compositions that Stillman creates to present this kind of awkwardness in the ideas of Americans living in Barcelona. Notably as Ted and Fred often speak English for a large portion of the film as they don’t know much Spanish where they get of lot of disdain from Spaniards. While the film features some voice-over narration from Ted as he reflects on the events he encounters while pondering about his ideas on love and life. While he has to contend with the more patriotic Fred who often borrows money without asking or saying the wrong things. Ted still has to be with him so that neither of them could get in trouble about who they are though Ted would often put things in risk.
Stillman uses a lot of medium shots to create a lot of the group conversations and some wide shots for bigger group scenes to capture a sense of togetherness or a scene reflecting one’s isolation such as a visit to Ramon’s house outside of Barcelona. The city of Barcelona is a character in the city as it plays out this world where the old world meets modern Europe as someone like Ted could thrive there. Yet, there is also something off as he is unsure about his place in the world as well as what to do when it comes to love. Stillman’s approach to the humor is quite subtle while having a few elements of slapstick as it brings some energy to the film including an awkward moment when Fred tries to change the music of the party only to realize that he almost ruined the party. Overall, Stillman creates a very fascinating and exhilarating film about love and idealism.
Cinematographer John Thomas does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography from the beautiful daytime exteriors of the city to the gorgeous nighttime exterior scenes at night as well as some wonderful scenery in some of the interior scenes. Editor Christopher Tellefsen does fantastic work with the editing by using rhythmic cuts to capture the humor as well as some dramatic moments while keeping things straightforward for the most part while using fade-outs to help structure the film. Production designer Jose Maria Botines does nice work with the look of the apartment that Ted lives in as well as a few of the places Ted and Fred go to as well as some of the anti-American propaganda that is written on the walls around the city.
Costume designer Edi Giguere does some terrific work with the costumes from the stylish clothes the women wear to the naval uniform that Fred wears. Sound editor Catherine Benedek does superb work with the sound to capture the atmosphere of some of the parties as well as some of the more intense moments in the film such as a couple of bombing scenes. The film’s music by Mark Suozzo is brilliant as it is largely a low-key electronic score to capture the mood of uncertainty in the characters while its soundtrack is a mixture of jazz and Spanish pop music with some American disco that Ted and Montserrat love.
The casting by Billy Hopkins and Simone Reynolds is just amazing as it features some notable small roles from Jack Gilpin as an American consul Fred deals with, Thomas Gibson as a co-worker of Ted whom he feels threatened by, Nuria Badia as a friend of Marta in Aurora, Hellena Schmeid as Aurora’s friend Greta that Ted later meets late in the film, and Pepe Munne as the anti-American journalist Ramon whom Montserrat had a relationship with. Mira Sorvino is wonderful as Marta whom Fred goes out with as she tries to explain to Fred and Ted the anti-American sentiment in Spain while being more outgoing than Montserrat. Tushka Bergen is great as Montserrat as a woman that Ted falls for as she displays the kind of ideals and beauty he craves as she is confused over her own feelings for Ramon.
The duo of Taylor Nichols and Chris Eigeman are the true major highlights of the film in their respective roles as cousins Ted and Fred Boynton. Nichols displays a terrific sense of comic timing as a man who is somewhat socially-awkward in his ideas of love while trying to deal with his own issues as a man and hold on to his own ideas in the world of business. Eigeman is phenomenal as the more outspoken Fred as a man who is baffled by this anti-American sentiment in Spain while dealing with the cultural differences he’s facing as Eigeman also displays a subtle vulnerability to a man whose patriotism is in danger while being accused of being a spy as he also makes some startling revelations on his own life. Nichols and Eigeman together are the heart and soul of the film as they really bring life to characters who could’ve been very inaccessible.
Barcelona is a marvelous film from Whit Stillman that features rich performances from Taylor Nichols and Chris Eigeman. The film is definitely one of the smarter yet more engaging romantic comedies that refuses to play by the rules while not being afraid to speak out against some of the political inequalities of the world. It’s also a film that explores men dealing with their own flaws as they try to win over women from a different country who also hold a very different idea about life. In the end, Barcelona is an exhilarating film from Whit Stillman.
Whit Stillman Films: Metropolitan - The Last Days of Disco - Damsels in Distress - Love & Friendship - The Auteurs #21: Whit Stillman
© thevoid99 2013
Written and directed by Whit Stillman, Metropolitan is the story about a middle-class student from Princeton who attends an upper-class debutante ball in New York City as he becomes part of a group of young people contemplating about their lives during the course of the Christmas holidays. The film is an exploration into the world of social classes as well as people in the transition of adulthood as they try to figure out what to do about their lives. Starring Carolyn Farina, Edward Clements, Taylor Nichols, Chris Eigeman, and Allison Rutledge-Parisi. Metropolitan is a witty and delightful comedy from Whit Stillman.
When people are about to emerge in adulthood, it is a period of confusion about what they’re expecting in their life. Even if this small group of people are from the upper class as all they do is go to parties and talk about the world around them. For this young man in Tom Townshend (Edward Clements), he is this middle-class Princeton student who has been in the world of social circles yet doesn’t really know much about the upper class though he has a wealthy father he doesn’t see very much. By accidentally meeting this group of young students who sort of know him, he starts to become part of this group of different people who all have a lot to say. Leading the pack is Nick (Chris Eigeman) who is very cynical about the way the world works yet he is intrigued by Tom for the fact that Tom comes from a slightly different background.
Still, Tom does have something to say about literature, art, and social classes as he often finds himself at the ire of the more philosophical Charlie (Taylor Nichols) who also pines for the young woman Audrey (Carolyn Farina) who has a crush on Tom. Yet, Tom is still hung up on his ex-girlfriend Serena (Ellia Thompson) who is dating a young man whom Nick believes is a scumbag based on a story about a young woman who killed herself over him. Whit Stillman’s screenplay is an exploration into this world that people outside of New York and the upper class might not seem to understand. Yet, the people in this film are actually very unique in their viewpoints about the world they live in, their social circles, and the idea of failing as adults.
Stillman uses a lot of dialogue to help carry the story where he reveals a lot of interesting views about the way these self-proclaimed urban-haute bourgeoisie conduct their lives. A lot of it is filled with contradictions about themselves in which Nick describes one of the women a group a slut yet he sleeps with her. Stillman allows the characters to be flawed in order to explain that no one has their life sorted out as Charlie is a guy who likes to talk about everything yet doesn’t know how to approach women. Tom is just as flawed as someone who is very intelligent but he is also a bit foolish about the fact that he is unaware that Audrey is attracted to him. There’s a scene where the two are arguing about Jane Austen where Audrey asks him if he’s read any of Austen’s books and he admits that he doesn’t as he only reads literary criticism.
Stillman’s direction is quite straightforward for the most part in terms of compositions and framing as he does set the film largely in Manhattan. Yet, he does add something to these scenes in the way actors are placed in the frame as well as capturing a discussion that is often happening in the film. There aren’t a lot of stylized camera tricks but Stillman does capture an atmosphere about what goes on in these debutante parties and the after-parties that can go on for hours. Yet, there is that energy that is just enthralling in these discussions and little games that these people play. Even in the moments when they’re just trying to get ready for the next big event as it is about this group though it’s told largely from the perspective of Tom.
The direction also has Stillman finding some subtle moments in the comedy as it’s more through dialogue and bits of action rather than the typical approach where it’s physical. Particularly as it revolves around scenes involving the growing friendship between Tom and Nick where Nick shows Tom the ropes to act a certain way though it’s obvious that Nick isn’t the right guy to do so. Yet, it adds to Tom’s development where he becomes confused on his actions where he would try to redeem himself with some help from an unexpected individual. Still, there is that element of comedy that occurs in the third act in some of the dialogue and presentation that Stillman has created. Overall, Stillman creates a truly exhilarating and smartly-played comedy about life in transition in the upper class world.
Cinematographer John Thomas does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography from the look of Manhattan in the holidays in day and night as well as some of more straightforward lighting in the party scenes. Editor Christopher Tellefsen does brilliant work with the editing from some of the rhythmic cuts in the party scenes and in some intense comedic moments as well as some straightforward cutting in some of the discussion scenes. Costume designer Mary Jane Fort does amazing work with the costumes in the look of the debutante dresses many of the women wear that display a transition in time from the 80s to the 90s.
Sound editor Jay Kessel does terrific work with the sound to capture the atmosphere of the parties as well as the scenes in Manhattan. The film’s music consists of pieces by Mark Suozzo as well as original cuts by Tom Judson, Jock Davis, Billy Jokes, and Joe B. Warner as it is this wide mix of jazz music as well as some orchestral pieces that plays to this world of the upper class.
The film’s cast is just phenomenal as many of them are just newcomers at the time as it includes some notable small roles from Roger W. Kirby that Tom and Charlie meet at a bar, Alice Connorton as Tom’s mother, Linda Gilles as Audrey’s mother, Stephen Uys as a slimy acquaintance of Rick von Sloneker, and Ellia Thompson as Tom’s ex-girlfriend Serena who is dating Rick as she becomes an object of obsession for Tom. Will Kempe is superb as the despicable Rick von Sloneker who despises Nick as he raises questions about whether Nick was really telling the truth about the girl who killed herself. Isabelle Gilles and Dylan Hundley are wonderful in their respective roles as the flirtatious Cynthia and the more sociable Sally while Bryan Leder is very funny as the alcoholic partier Fred as he is often the most low-key member of the group. Allison Rutledge-Parisi is excellent as Audrey’s best friend Jane who observes everything that goes on as some of the drama that occurs forces her to go out on her own.
Taylor Nichols is amazing as the intellectual Charlie as a man who doesn’t really like Tom for his views and such as the two vie for Audrey’s affections where Nichols also displays a sensitivity to someone who doesn’t know how to talk to girls. Carolyn Farina is great as Audrey as a woman who has this idealized idea of love only to find herself confused when Tom is absorbed in his own world. Edward Clements is marvelous as Tom as a young man confused about his place in the world as he tries to figure things out while feeling foolish over his actions as it concerns Audrey whom he starts to care for. Finally, there’s Chris Eigeman in a remarkable performance as Nick as a young cynic who provides some fascinating viewpoints of the world as he is a man full of contradiction and flaws and is aware of it as Eigeman plays this man with lots of charm.
Metropolitan is an incredible film from Whit Stillman. Thanks to a top-notch ensemble cast that includes Chris Eigeman, Taylor Nichols, Carolyn Farina, and Edward Clements. It is a film that is filled with very provocative yet humorous ideas about life and social classes as well as trying to find a place in the world where failure is expected. It’s also a film that allows audiences to connect with people who may be from a very different world but find reveal that they too don’t have it together. In the end, Metropolitan is a tremendous film from Whit Stillman.
Whit Stillman Films: Barcelona - The Last Days of Disco - Damsels in Distress - Love & Friendship - The Auteurs #21: Whit Stillman
© thevoid99 2013
