By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Kazik Radwanski
Starring: Alejandra Zapico | Deragh Campbell | Georgia Tannis | Matt Johnson | Simon Reynolds
Year: 2024
Running time: 80
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13109862/reference/
Brett says: “The film MATT AND MARA is the latest from director Kazik Radwanski (ANNE AT 13,000 FT.) and, like his previous feature film, is a character study from start to finish. Co-title-character Matt is one who takes things as they come while it seems that Mara is the type of character who studies and deliberates a bit more, often questioning the ability of Matt to be as flippant as he sometimes is. They are long-time friends–and seemingly even more than that—rekindled with a bond that supersedes many definitions of a standard relationship. Still, this closeness is paired with playful conflict that almost always seems to be at the forefront. Their banter is inspirational to a certain degree and even aspirational for many audience members as they navigate through naturalistic dialogue that is almost extraplanar in how each one connects to the other in a way that many people probably only dream about in their own heads and rarely have the ability to actually attain with another person on the same off-centered wavelength. Don’t forget the mighty words of Prince, however: ‘dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing we call “life.”‘ And for Mara especially, the leap to extraplanar happiness with friend Matt is complicated by her reality checks of responsibility to husband and child and to a job as a writing professor that demands certain limitations to her freedom of personality that often surfaces with Matt .
“The complications of this friendship lie in the unspoken romantic tensions that can be cut with a knife. However, unlike so many buddy/romance relationship films, there is an extra level of comfort and believability for the audience in this film due to the improvisational style of their dialogue. Conflicts and different tiers of conversational depth unfold much more convincingly with this method. As such, the periphery of each character’s circumstances outside of their friendship takes on a plot of its own without having to be over-scripted with narration or dialogue that shreds it all to pieces with unnecessary explanations. In Mara’s case, for instance, the conditions involving family and occupation imply she has such a deeper level of attunement to the stakes involved in her side of the relationship with Matt, whereas Matt’s more happy-go-lucky freedom does not account for the tightrope act that is suggested for Mara’s situation.
“For fans of high tension unspoken longings, this is most definitely the latest film entry that deserves a spot on any watchlist of that type. The film brilliantly navigates a balance between the thirst to see each person get what they want/need and the desire just to keep letting it linger so that the tension keeps the presumed fire burning. Neither will give in and let the audience fully into their heads, and this is also indicated in much of the word play and verbal jousting the two main characters experience on a weekly basis. With this tap dance around what is being said and what actually needs to be said, the audience gets to become a more active part in the scenes that unfold.
“4 CATS OUT OF 5“