By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.75 cats
Director: Kitty Green
Starring: Julia Garner | Kristine Froseth | Makenzie Leigh | Matthew Macfadyen
Country: united_states
Year: 2020
Running time: 87
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9000224/reference
Chris says: “I guess making a movie with a Harvey Weinstein stand-in who is never shown and only depicted via email and phone is a cautious, effective way to avoid getting sued (and who wants to actually see a Harvey surrogate anyway?) I admire director Kitty Green’s rigorous approach to depicting the utter banality of entry-level office work; I’m also thankful for the extended scene with Matthew Macfayden’s odious HR manager, a necessary break in the monotony. Julia Garner’s good enough here to further convince that she’ll likely win an Academy Award someday. However, the film lacks nuance–striving for ‘realism’ and restraint is all well and good, but such an approach can also occasionally come off as humorless and stiff. 3.5 cats”
Michael says: “Another somber, hard-hitting low-budget film written and directed by a woman that explores the subtle and not-so-subtle ways women are mistreated by men in power. Jane is a lowly production assistant with grand ambitions working for a big time, movie producer. While the #MeToo movement emerged in full force a few years ago, and Harvey Weinstein was just convicted in the past several months, you get the feeling that stories like Jane’s still run rampant in the entertainment industry. Jane herself doesn’t seem to be sexually harassed by her boss, although she is emotionally abused in so many other ways, yet there is clearly sexual abuse going on around her. Jane struggles with her decision whether to do something about it, and most assuredly lose her toehold in the film industry, or to turn a blind eye.
Diane says: “Dedicated ‘to all those who shared their experiences,’ THE ASSISTANT is about sexism and sexual misconduct in the movie industry. (The third film in a row I’ve seen about women who are not taken seriously in an environment run by men. I’m ready to move on!) Julia Garner is perfect as the assistant to ‘the Chairman,’ five weeks into the job and struggling to gain any respect.