I noticed no one has commented on this film, and if it’s been done, I apologise accordingly.
What a brilliant film and approach to the weight and severity of existence, purpose, and the meaning/meaninglessness of all that conspires.
Thoughts?
I find Charlie Kaufman to be one of the most interesting screenwriters working today, but I found this film to be a relentlessly depressing and ultimately nihilistic film. Of course, this is exactly what Kaufman intended; back when he was still developing the film the Arclight Hollywood did a Kaufman retrospective (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) with a Q&A or talk by Kaufman after each film. One of the sessions was an audience Q&A, and when asked about his future projects he said that he was working on an “existential horror movie”, which pretty much sums up Synechdoche, NY.
What I’ve always enjoyed about Kaufman’s films is the dry, nearly deadpan humor in them even as they touch on the disconnection and despair that the characters suffer; Being John Malkovich seemed to me to be a Monty Pythonesque skit extended to movie length and populated with slightly unreal but identifiable characters. I can’t help but laugh at “Charlie Kaufman”'s opening interior monologue in Adaptation even though I can identify it as something like my own thoughts, but Synechdoche is almost utterly without humor; I think the only laugh I had was the burning house that Hazel purchased, and even that was depressing once I understood the meaning of it.
I have to admit to being a little to wrapped up in the puzzle of what was going on to fully absorb the emotional impact of the film but I found many of the events profoundly disturbing, and the friend I went with cried through about the last half hour of the film. It never offers a relief from the crushing failure of the Caden to fix his problems; instead, he tries to create a simulacrum–the play, and then the play within the play which are the synechdoches for his life–in which he can control events and turn them to his favor, only to have that spin out of control as well, mixing his fiction with the reality of the life he tries to avoid. And his lack of involvement feeds this; such as the daughter who becomes the tattooed lady.
I wish I could write a more insightful commentary, but I don’t think I properly understand the movie, much less capable of making some astute and intelligent observations about it.
Stranger
I need to see it again to fully grasp the concepts presented.
But, contrary to you, I found the first half of the film (including the house, till that made sense) absolutely hysterical, in the most honest and depressing way.
It gets it’s point across time and time again, whatever those may be.
As I see it, it is a comment on obsession and love. The driving point for both being death.
With these, it is less lonely, and, the ending, being consumed willingly fulfills both needs, with or without purpose.
I felt that
Helen’s last direction for him to die was what he was wanting all along, through his project and trials and tribulations, all he wanted was permission and acceptance, neither of which he gets, from any level. He also satisfies his need to have a purpose just before his end. “Well, I do enjoy cleaning.”
So much more to be pulled apart, but I need to see it again.
I started a thread about this movie before it came out. I’ve since seen it twice but never posted back in that thread because I didn’t know what to say. It was one of the most confusing movies I’ve ever seen, but I’m placing all the blame of that on myself. There’s much to be gained from the movie, as both of you have pointed out, but I haven’t been in the mood to try and figure it out. It was funny, and interesting, and quirky, and way over my head.
Just as with Lynch movies like Mullholland Drive and (especially) Inland Empire, I think the movie is probably brilliant, and I think I got the main themes, and I believe that the acting is all first-rate, and I know that it’s one of those films that you could see dozens of times and pick up new things each time, and I also believe that if someone were to pop in and say “What a terrible film!” I would feel very defensive and protective toward it. All that said, I’m not inspired to delve. Maybe someday, but not at this point in my life. I like reading your thoughts though.
Like everyone else I thought it was very good (I think), and it was heartbreaking, but I don’t really don’t know what else to say about it.
I got this movie, I really did, but I hated it. I thought it was masturbatory and self indulgent (which I know was the point as the character is completely self absorbed and the movie reflects that- I get the point) and pretentious and pointless works I’ve ever seen, one that mistakes surrealism and absurdity and willful confusion with depth and purpose. The whole thing was a disjointed dream, and while those work perfectly as a part of a narrative they can’t replace narrative. I found it weird for weird’s sake, chaos amidst chaos and the lack of order murderous to the whole. I realize I’m probably the exception though.