Poly Styrene: I am a Cliché (2021, Paul Sng, Celeste Bell)
Born Marianne Joan Elliott-Said she rechristened herself as Poly Styrene when she became a new wave/punk singer. This crowdfunded documentary from co-directors Paul Sng and daughter Celeste Bell guides us with words from Poly Styrene’s archives, voiced by actress Ruth Negga. The film contains amazing footage of her early years and musical performances. It relates how she was misdiagnosed as schizophrenic when she was really bipolar and how Sid Vicious locked her up for about an hour at Johnny Rotten’s house. Eventually, she yearned to be Marianne again and leave Poly Styrene behind. Her relationship with daughter Celeste was complicated, as Celeste was underweight when she was removed from her mother’s custody and was pushed down the stairs by her mother once. However, mother and daughter reunified to collaborate on her last album.
Rating: 7/10
Vegan alert:
Poly Styrene’s pink and black fur hat
Vegan points:
Poly Styrene never did like shellfish
Swan Song (2021, Todd Stephens)
“Inspired by a true icon”, Swan Song is about Pat Pitsenbarger (Udo Kier), a man who is faced with coming out of retirement after former client Rita Parker Sloan (Linda Evans) set aside a hefty amount for him in her will, but only if he would make her up one last time. After the recent success of films such as Bacurau and The Painted Bird, Udo Kier delivers yet another immaculate performance.
After Pat’s partner of several years has died, he is wasting away in a retirement home. The opening sequence is superb; he remembers when he rocked drag shows as “Mr. Pat”. Pat felt betrayed by Rita Parker Sloan when she left him for a new hairdresser after they felt like best friends for decades. However, social security won’t do much for Pat. He doesn’t know how to handle money, which is evidenced throughout the film: he doesn’t have anything in the bank for what he needs and he pisses away what little is given to him on booze.
The humor, warmth, energy, and style of this film was unmatched by any other film out of SXSW this year. Udo Kier rocked the costumes: the suits, the hats, the rings, the foulard, the purple fedora, the lip gloss, the mascara, and the Cinderella shoes, as only he could. Watching him spar with archenemy, Dee Dee Dale (Jennifer Coolidge), is a delight. Both Kier and Coolidge deserve all the roles they could ever ask for after this film.
Fortunately, Magnolia Pictures has acquired worldwide rights for this film which is slated to come out later this year according to Deadline. Join “Mr. Pat” in his eternal quest to find Vivanté and discover this beautiful comedy that is interspersed with sweet and tender moments.
Vegan alert:
Pat’s fur coat
Islands (2021, Martin Edralin)
After hearing great feedback, I checked out Islands. It really floored me. There were such nice shots and editing choices that made it worth watching immediately.
Joshua (Rogelio Balagtas) is the center of this film, a lonely man who is too shy to approach anyone for a date. His mom lovingly cooks for him and his dad; both his parents go to dance classes to pass the time away. Unfortunately, as his dad demands more care, Joshua’s cousin, Marisol (Sheila Lotuaco), comes to stay with them. Joshua previously overheard his mom suggest that she needed to find a boyfriend and Joshua knows that he needs to find a girlfriend. He makes the only plausible connection: perhaps Marisol is the one for him.
Joshua’s matter-of-fact prayers are contrasted with Marisol finally showing him how to live life one step at a time, starting with chopping onions. A lot of cinephiles will relate to Joshua who lives in a lonely bubble. It’s beautiful when he finally starts to come out of his shell and progresses to become the person he was supposed to be in the face of multiple heartaches.
Vegan alert:
Mom chops raw chicken in the kitchen
SXSW Special Jury Recognition for Breakthrough Performance: Islands
Director: Martin Edralin
Actor: Rogelio Balagtas
