so many reviews rave about the movie because they found it relatable, or because it was such a big project, or because it portrays uncomfortable subjects in jarring ways. a really long and somewhat unusual movie about authentic transness isn't automatically good because it feels real, and i think castration movie deserves to be evaluated on its own terms. (and i think the movie can handle it.)
for my part, most of this did not reflect my transgender experience, except…
love how Reichardt lingers with the camera in a way that makes the movie feel so real—it's hard to anticipate if the shot is still going because something is going to happen or if because that's just how life is
seen at the Paris Theater with Kelly Reichardt and Larry Fessenden Q&A
BIRDS SEEN AND HEARD IN THIS MOVIE
Dark-eyed Junco
American Crow
Rock Pigeon
European Starling
Brown-headed Cowbird (?)
House Sparrow
California Gull
Spotted Towhee
Western Bluebird
California Scrub-Jay
I don't think this movie has much to say about U.S. society or politics. however, as a journalist, I found its indictment of journalism's narcissistic masochism to be delightful (and outside the scope of this post). as a birdwatcher, I was impressed by the attention to detail in creating a sense of place.
the background birdsong was very accurate, placing the film's events around May in the mid-Atlantic United States. most of the species heard could plausibly be found in…
i'm gatekeeping my perfect opinions on this perfect movie except to say that the use of bird songs and calls was so powerful at conveying the moods of northeast U.S. suburbia, especially the house wren song in a pink opaque clip and the chimney swift calls in the bleachers scene
BIRDS HEARD IN THIS MOVIE
House Wren
Northern Cardinal
Mourning Dove
Northern Flicker
Chimney Swift
House Sparrow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Black-capped Chickadee
