THE SOUVENIR – A Review by John Strange
Set in the early 80’s, this film-noir styled story follows a young British woman, a film student. She is someone who shows us she needs someone, anyone to love her. Even someone whose morals are pretty much non-existent.
Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne) is drawn into a downward spiraling morass as she allows Anthony (Tome Burke) too much access to her life. Her inability to see what is happening to her left me baffled.
The lighting of every scene was used to color our perceptions of the events taking place right before our eyes. Anthony’s chain smoking affected me as well. Topping this visual recipe of pain and sadness are Julie’s parents which included her mother, Rosalind (Tilda Swinton, Honor’s real-life mother as well).
In case you are not positive about the tone of this review, I truly disliked pretty much everything about this film. The best I can rate The Souvenir is a D-. This was the first film this year to find a place on my “Worst of 2019 List”.
Directed by: Joanna Hogg
Cast: Honor Swinton Byrne, Tom Burke, Tilda Swinton
MPAA Rating: R (for some sexuality, graphic nudity, drug material and language)
Selig Rating: D-
Runtime: 115 Min.
Movie Site: a24films.com/films/the-souvenir
The Selig Rating Scale:
A – Excellent movie, well worth the price.
B – Good movie
C – OK movie
D – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
F – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn’t paid for it.
