Since her debut with The Virgin Suicides, Sofia Coppola has carved herself a niche as a filmmaker capable of telling small beautifully crafted stories of isolated and bored individuals. She is not afraid to take risks when it comes to slowing down a narrative to an almost complete stand still, everything she does is calculated and considered and for those who enjoy her work the end process can make for rewarding viewing. She received mainstream accolades for Lost in Translation, a story of romance between a bored over the hill actor and the unappreciated wife of a photographer set against a Tokyo backdrop and this month’s release, Somewhere, sees her returning to similar territory. Somewhere is the story of A-list actor Johnny Marco, played fantastically by Stephen Dorff. Johnny lives a privileged but dull life. In between being ushered to and from shoots and publicity tours, he spends his days drinking and smoking, and his evenings stumbling from one one-night-stand to the next. Whilst this may sound appealing in truth it is not, Johnny’s life is a constant stream of monotonous tedium broken only by visits from his eleven year old daughter Cleo.
Somewhere is a film where not a lot happens, although this may prove frustrating to some viewers it is the whole point of the story. Large parts of the film are still and silent, consisting of Johnny left to his own devices. The opening scene sees him driving his Ferrari repeatedly round an empty race track until boredom sets in and he can do it no more, this is a repeated motif of the film. Johnny does the same things over and over because he doesn’t seem to know what else to do. Dorff plays the part with a bemused vulnerability most perfectly encapsulated in a scene where he returns to the hotel room where he lives to find his best friend throwing a party where Johnny spends most of his time hiding in a corner. Unlike most films about Hollywood this is not a story of excess, it is a story of reality. The relationship between the actor and his young daughter played fantastically by young Elle Fannning is one of the most naturalistic relationships to be put to film in recent years and their interaction is a pleasure to watch.
Despite her skill as a writer it is Coppola’s use of silence that speaks volumes within this carefully constructed narrative, and there is a narrative here. This film is a study of a man without direction and meaning to his life, a man who wishes to be a better person, a better father but is unsure how to go about it. It moves far beyond the themes of loneliness explored in her previous work and into something that is truly beautiful. Somewhere is not a film that everyone will enjoy, many will find tedious and dull, but for those willing to offer it the level of patience and thought it deserves it will prove to be one of the most fascinating and touching films of the year.
Review by Elliot Hyams
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