OBJECTS – A Review by Jenn Rohm
In 2014 Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing was published. This brought to the world a philosophy of holding each item in your home, if it brings you joy find a place for it. If it does not, then remove it from your home. For many people, this has led to clutter leaving their homes.
What about those items that have strong emotional ties to the owner? It may or may not be joy. It could bring a memory, feeling, emotions, and maybe even a mystery to solve. Vincent Liota directed and wrote the film Objects to tell the story of three people and their items.
Robert Krulwich, of NPR, has grass from a park that he pulled and put in his pocket while on a date in his early teens. When sharing the grass and the story he mentions how it was a story that would have died with him, only now it can live on with those who see the film.
Heidi Julavits, author of novels and short stories, found items on eBay once owned by a little-known French actress from the 50s. Including some mirrors that she will not look in as she believes the last face, they held was that of the actress.
Rick Rawlins, a graphic designer, has a sugar egg from his childhood. For over four decades, it has been an item of importance to him.
Why do these items have value? How is the value assigned to them? Do others place the same value on them? In a world where people are being encouraged to own less, what is the harm in having a few items the owner places value on?
As someone following the Kondo method and Swedish death cleaning, I found comfort in this film. This piece doesn’t permit us to hang onto everything, it is about having a few items with strong attachments. For those of us going through these processes, this film cuts out some of the guilt. It has re-motivated me to go through 20+ years of items in my home.
Currently available for watch on Amazon Prime, it is worth the time.
Director: Vincent Liota
Written By: Vincent Liota
Cast: Robert Krulwich, Rick Rawlins, Heidi Julavits
Genres: Documentary
Selig Rating: 3 stars
Runtime: 63m
Streaming: Amazon Prime
Trailer: Objects Trailer
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.
