🎬 #114 Transformation Of Body And Mind.
Straight into it this week - two films that deal with the body, violence upon it and journeys of physical and mental transformation. Not for the shy or faint of heart.
Happy choosing, happy viewing
Bry
FILM ONE: MUSCLE
2019 Dir Gerard Johnson
1hr 50 mins
Muscle puts us deep in the pain cave of the underworld of bodybuilding and the toxic masculinity that often accompanies it. Director Gerard Johnson crafts a narrative that is as much about the physical transformation of its protagonist, Simon, as it is about his psychological dismantling. In a world where brute strength and outward appearance are valued over everything, Simon finds himself caught in a relentless pursuit of getting hench, swole, yoked, or jacked - however you describe it.
This film isn’t just a journey through the halls of a gym; it’s dive into the mind of a man obsessed with the idea of becoming more than what he is. Largely, this is his way to find meaning away from his faltering relationship and the powerless he feels in his day job. In these facets of his life, he’s soft and limp - only when he starts working out does he find control, and become the ‘ideal’ of a tough guy. But it’s all just pretence, he’s still the same man underneath the oversized hoody.
The black and white cinematography mirrors the raw, unfiltered reality of Simon’s life, with its stark lighting and close-ups that make you taste the sweat, feel the grime of a gym left to focused only on carving muscle, without much thought about its own aesthetics. It's a bleak, middle England exploration of what it means to push the body and mind to their limits. Johnson doesn’t shy away from the darker side of this obsession, presenting a narrative filled with moments that are both harrowing and deeply human. The most shocking of which you’ll be hit with at about the midway point. I won’t spoil anything, but it’s a startling moment that takes a while to sink in, for you to realise, exactly, what you’re really watching.
TL;DR: Muscle is a visceral exploration of masculinity and obsession, that leaves you questioning the true cost of transformation.
*Available for a small rental fee on Amazon, Apple, Google and YouTube in the UK, unfortunately not in the US, but a VPN will help you out here.
Fact: Craig Fairbrass said it took him several days to recover from shooting the pivotal scene I mentioned above.
FILM TWO: FEMME
2023 Dir Sam H Freeman & Ng Choon Ping
1hr 39 mins
On the surface, Femme might seem like the opposite of Muscle, but at its heart, it deals with similar themes of identity and self-perception. However, here the focus shifts to femininity. This film is a compelling revenge thriller that empowers the victim by becoming closer and closer to the person who victimised them. The directors use a tender yet powerful lens to explore the strength it takes to redefine oneself in the face of adversity.
Femme stands out for high contrast, saturated cinematography - stark washes of colour and inky city streets, which stands at odds with the softness of its protagonists' journey with the harshness of the world around them. It’s a film that’s as visually stunning as it is emotionally resonant, capturing the essence of its characters' struggles with sensitivity and grace. It’s a tender, delicate film - that gives us no easy way out. Through moments of quiet introspection and explosive confrontation, the film delves into what it means to fight for a place in the world.
TL;DR: A powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit, Femme is for anyone who seeks a deeper understanding of identity and transformation.
*Available for a small rental fee on Apple, Amazon, Google and YouTube in the UK
but not in the US. A VPN is your friend here or alternatively and brilliantly, it is playing in some cinemas state side.
Fact: The feature directing debut for both filmmakers who are a screenwriter and theatre director, respectively.