Dir. Gus Van Sant , USA , 2011, 91 mins
Cast: Henry Hopper, Mia Wasikowska, Ryo Kase, Jane Adams,
Review by Carlie Newman
Gus Van Sant has made some really good film in the past, including a few about young people such as his 1991 film, My Own Private Idaho , which starred River Phoenix and the young Keanu Reeves . It is a pity, therefore, that Restless does not fulfil our expectations from that.
Enoch Brae (Henry Hopper) has found life difficult to cope with after the death of his parents in a car accident and has withdrawn into a shell. His only companion is Hiroshi (Ryo Kase), the ghost of a dead Kamikase fighter pilot. Enoch meets Annabel Cotton (Mia Wasikowska) by chance at a funeral. Discovering that she has terminal cancer, he confesses that he likes to go to the funerals of strangers. Annabel is interested in insects and their life cycles and is an admirer of Charles Darwin.
The two grow close and Enoch tries to help Annabel prepare for death, although he finds the idea of her loss almost unbearable. We see Annabel with her mother and sister and Enoch with his aunt Mabel (Jane Adams).
Although the relationship between the two young people is basically a love story, there are so many aspects that just don’t ring true that it is difficult to accept the film as it is presented. And we’re not talking here about the ghost element (the ghost conveniently speaks English), which is just an extra bit of whimsy, but the way Annabel’s illness is depicted. Anyone who has ever known anyone with cancer will know that it is virtually impossible to lead such an active life as Annabel does here: she runs in the woods, rides a bike, fences and never seems to need a daytime rest. It would, indeed, be great if someone could have a blood transfusion, which, in itself implies that the patient is very sick, and then be able to sit cross-legged on top of the bed immediately afterwards. Annabel has not needed any part of her head to be shaven although she is suffering from a brain tumour and she eats and drinks normally as well – all a bit misleading for young people if they have to cope with the illness of a loved one in real life.
Although made up to look a bit pale, in all other respects the actress plays the part of Annabel as though she is a healthy young woman. One redeeming feature is that Wasikowska is extremely pretty and Hopper (son of the late Dennis Hopper) is most presentable, so it is always enjoyable to watch them on screen. Another interesting performance is that of Schuyler Fisk (daughter of Sissy Spacek and the production designer, Jack Fisk). Schuyler plays Elizabeth, Annabel’s sister, in a caring but not too emotional manner. Adams is also fine as the aunt who has virtually given up her own life to come and care for her nephew in his own home.
xx - posted on 23/05/2012 13:13:28
