Freedom Writers: Review of The Kindergarten Teacher

The Kindergarten Teacher

Director: Sara Colangelo

By Alex Watson

There are few actresses that can make an indie darling sparkle like Maggie Gyllenhaal. In Sara Colangelo's Sundance award winner The Kindergarten Teacher, she is able to take a progressively disturbing yet identifiable character and make her engaging. Adapting the original 2014 Israeli film by Navad Lapid, Colangelo chronicles an uninspired 40-something teacher looking for an outlet in life and gives a firm commentary on the mentor-mentee boundaries.

Lisa Spinelli (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a kindergarten teacher at a crossroads in life. Her husband Grant (Michael Chernus) is sweet but rather oblivious, her teenage children (Daisy Tahan and Sam Jules) barely need her. Attempting a poetry class in her spare time, her work is often greeted with lukewarm praise by teacher Simon (Gael Garcia Bernal). Out of nothing, Lisa finds five-year-old student Jimmy Roy (Parker Sevak) who shows great promise and is adept at waxing lyrical. However, her enthusiasm for him to show his full potential eventually spills over into obsession.

Perhaps the most intriguing part of The Kindergarten Teacher is how Colangelo presents Lisa to the audience. From the outset, the frustration at the banality and predictability of her world is apparent. Lisa simply going through the motions with little to inspire her. Her poetry often falls flat and it is obvious that she has more passion than natural talent. Her marriage is past its sell-by date and her two kids view her presence as an irritation. When she first meets Jimmy, his seemingly inane ramblings to himself are like a comet striking her world. From here, she attempts in more and more desperate ways to insert herself into his world. Colangelo begins to blur the lines and soon the relationship on screen become a source of debate for all concerned.

Lisa at first tries to convince his divorced father to encourage his poetic talents which he adamantly dismisses as he just wants his son to be a normal boy. Then she resorts to stealing his poetry and presenting it as her own which quickly turns her frosty professor's attention. What precisely is her motivation with Jimmy? Colangelo keeps this almost annoyingly ambiguous- is he a creative outlet? Or is something more sinister a play here? Her behaviour becomes increasingly less professional as she begins to contacting and seeking out the boy outside of school hours, waking him during naps times and exhibits a more possessive and unsettling attitude. Her life may lack substance, but there is something fascinating and absorbing about watching this descent into near delusion.

Predictably this character becomes more and more determined for the world to see a young man who doesn't wish to be seen. There is a last-ditch effort which makes us squirm uncontrollably in our chairs. Even so, Colangelo gives this an almost illuminating quality that makes it all the more watchable. Its conclusion itself is hard to define and we are sure precisely what is being hinted at, but it is clear that this young man has been through the wringer. Is Lisa a suitable wannabe mentor for this young man? Or is she simply an overly eager teacher whose crossed a serious line in both work and her personal life? Prepare for some hard questions as the credits roll.

Maggie Gyllenhaal shows just why she is one of Hollywood's most underrated leading ladies. It takes a special type of talent to make a borderline stalker seems engaging and likeable. Gyllenhaal is able to find a warmth and charm where some would struggle greatly. Young actor Parker Sevak also impresses as Jimmy and is able to add some increasingly nervous behaviour as the picture goes on.

The Kindergarten Teacher might be just outside of major awards contention, but its a reminder of how Maggie Gyllenhaal can anchor the smaller films.

My Giant (Head): Review of Frank

Frank

Director: Lenny Abrahamson

By Alex Watson

No one will ever truly know or understand the methods of British comedian Chris Sievey or his reasons for creating his giant headed alter-ego 'Frank Sidebottom'. Although his comedy and overall act brought differing reactions from people, you cannot deny this was a memorable persona. Irish director Lenny Abrahamson this year brings us a film heavily inspired by the man himself. Nor there will not be any Monopoly Song or any tunes relating to football, but you can expect the music to get in strange in his movie, Frank. 

Budding songwriter Jon Burroughs (Domnhall Gleason) is waiting to get his big break into the music industry. By complete accident after witnessing the attempted suicide of their keyboard player, he finds himself drafted into obscure band 'The Soronprfbs' lead by odd papier-mache headed singer Frank (Michael Fassbender) Together the band goes to a secluded house in Ireland to record an album, but Jon soon find himself out of place amongst all the madness of the group! Soon Frank and his bizarre antics begin to put a strain upon events.

If you were expecting a straight up biopic of Frank Sidebottom then prepare to be surprised because Frank is a very esoteric yet uproarious movie by Lenny Abrahamson and its unique sense of off beat humour works very well for the most part. Co-script by Sievey's former band member Jon Ronson, this movie makes audiences question what kind of art music truly is, and more important does Frank or Jon deserve a place among the mainstream?

At first Jon relishes his seemingly lucky break, when we first meet him he is a bored and creatively empty young man living at home with mum and dad. But the moment he goes on tour and finds himself locked away in a remote Irish cabin until Frank finds the 'perfect sound' he realizes that he has bitten off more than he can chew! From here on out, Jon has a front row seat to the mania that ensues. The problems of fitting in with the band is a continuing problem and he finds himself forever questioning if he earns a place there because as icy theremin player Clara (Maggie Gyllenhaal) tells him "You should go home!"


The Soronprfbs are a band whose music is hard to categorize, and although Jon through secret filming and posting of videos gets the band infamous online- their upcoming slot at the South by Southwest festival may not necessarily go to plan! However, we instantly fall in love with the giant headed Frank, particularly for his description of his facial expressions out loud. But its the mystery that intrigues Jon about him, and all around him are convinced he is a genius. Is Frank really a mad musical genius or is he really just a lunatic wearing in a silly disguise? This ambiguity makes for an interesting debate in Abrahamson's film and until the final reel we are still uncertain of our answer!

But although this film is fun and has a very quirky edge to it, Frank suffers from a uneven third act and this section makes the film dip in quality as Jon makes the transition into near insanity. Although partially stirring, Frank's fall to earth both musically and personally has a rather dull ring to it and as Jon becomes a reluctant detective to find him, it leaves a bit of a hallow ring. All errors aside, Abrahamson manages to inject enough humour into proceedings to make this a forgiveable mistake and skilfully he manages to leave things on a uplifting (albeit it fractured) note.

Michael Fassbender gives what is perhaps his most extraordinary performance to date. Sat mostly behind a gigantic staring head, he somehow manages to conjure up a stunning sense of emotion mixed with borderline insanity. But it's his skilful underplaying of the possible insanity that makes Frank all the more memorable and although he could off at any moment, we pray he comes through. Domnhall Gleason is one the who scores highest in the likeability stakes and his charming portrayal as underdog Jon is one that gives us something to cheer. Musically he may not have a clue, but compared to the other unstable members of the band, Jon knows exactly where to take them! Gleason is one the best upcoming talents currently and JJ Abrams should feel proud for casting him in his upcoming Star Wars movie!

It may not be a completely perfect movie, but Frank is still an interesting journey for film fans to undertake and it will at least make you question your taste in music afterwards. Frank Sidebottom may not be the key focus of this movie, but his legacy still lives on through Abrahamson! Though shame there was no mention of "Bobbins" or "Blimey"