9/7/2016 - The Fits (2015) - 7/10

Small scale indie sensibilities paired with a profoundly robust & fresh gaze shine in this “just beginning to bloom” movie-maker/film. There is a tremendously sparse approach to the storytelling, with few locations, few actors, little dialogue, and even less explicit dispensation of meaningfulness. None of this makes it any less impactful though. It just might be a bit more of an acquired taste (I can definitely see it being slammed for being boring/meaningless, even though I disagree with both whole heartedly), but it is certainly a validating and nourishing meal.

It discusses the magic and horror of a young black girl’s coming-of-age, through her journey from wanting to be a boxer to the much more glamorous and feminine dance team, all while the specter of a confounding “adult disease” looms in the background. The metaphors and the delicate exploration of the workings of parts of her life provide for a rich viewing & reading-into experience. So much of the film-making is in a personal and naturalistic tenor, continuously being up-close with the protagonist, and using the characters view-point/distance to afford us our knowledge of what is happening in total. It feels raw, for both good and ill.

Many, me partially included, might not fully get on board with the minimalistic (some could say overly artsy) plot, dialogue, and obscured explanation. Perhaps it is this over ambiguity/plot iciness that forces my hesitancy in crowning this a masterpiece. None-the-less, this is a damn good film. A first time writer/director with a distinct and applaud able vision, focusing on the feminine experience and a lifestyle outside many's experience. I didn’t love this film, but I liked it a great deal. I anticipate the next offering from this new visionary (Anne Rose Holmer).