Showing Up

Can't believe this is my first Kelly Reichardt film, Showing Up is immensely and absorbingly charming because of just how frank it is about the ordinary life of a ordinary artist told with calming texture and a sharp subtle comedy that made me laugh harder then I've had this year with any film, this is geniuely one of the funniest films I've seen but underlining the obvious there is this personal conflict and melancholic tension throughout which highlights the flawed nature of our protagonist but also what drives her to that point. Yet its never overdramatic, I like how unromantic and unsentimental this is about the art world but its also not cynical or pushing anything down, this is purely a film about the contradiction of being able to create something while also not really having any control over your own life and its extremely heartfelt which makes this even more watchable. Also can I just say Michelle Williams was great in the Fabelmans but out of the two this was the performance that deserved to be nominated, the way she navigates the space, that dead pan Buster Keaton look to her I think is why 80% of all the humour here lands and Reichardt seems to know that and really emphasised on long medium shots that captures what Williams is doing with her body to communicate her character's state, she isn't just letting her arms go numb but there's so much deliberate tiny choices that make the character come to life and its so simple but so effective, her chemistry with Hong Chou is also another highlight. Also love how all the subplots merged together in the end for a quick but adrenaline filled poetic expression that leaves me on a high. This won't be for everybody but Reichardt embraces that fact and tell a truly ordinary story in the most quaint fashion and what you get is a patient but ultimately rewarding piece of film, one that doesn't offer answers but provokes just enough questions and emotions for it to be very memorable. If you ever want to see what a slow cinema comedy looks like, Showing Up is a gem, creative but mature in its distillation of what it may mean to live, to create art and how those two things mysteriously links, just wonderful!