Shadows on the Wall | Remarkably Bright Creatures

Remarkably Bright Creatures

dir Olivia Newman
scr Olivia Newman, John Whittington
prd Bryan Unkeless, Peter Craig, David Levine
with Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, Alfred Molina, Colm Meaney, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant, Sofia Black-D'Elia, Brandon McEwan, Donald Sales, Mapuana Makia, Laura Harris
release US/UK 8.May.26
26/Canada Netflix 1h51

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Wistful and heartwarming, this comedy-drama traces two offbeat friendships that a woman discovers in her golden years, with an aging octopus and a troubled young man. Filmmaker Olivia Newman makes everything rather warm and cute, but there are some wonderfully messy edges that help the story resonate. So even with its big narrative swings, this is an involving story about finding more effective ways to communicate our feelings.

In a small-town Washington state aquarium, giant Pacific octopus Marcellus (in a knowing voiceover by Molina) is exhausted by noisy school children, missing the sea's tranquility. The only person he likes is cleaning lady Tova (Field), who loves the beauty of ocean life and isn't much interested in the gossip shared by her friends (Chen, Baker and Grant). When Tova breaks her foot, she's replaced by struggling musician Cameron (Pullman), who doesn't seem to have the strength to see things through. So she begins to teach him that everything that matters takes time and effort.

Marcellus continually makes intelligent observations, understanding truths beneath the surface. Tova is still dealing with the death of her husband and teen son (McEwan in flashback), and also the pressure to sell her artisan home and move into an assisted living facility. Meanwhile, Cameron is grappling with his own difficult past, and both find themselves in quirky romantic entanglements: Tova with neighbour Ethan (Meaney) and Cameron with paddleboard shop owner Avery (Black-D'Elia).

Field is able to be unusually authentic in a role that requires her to offer sage advice to everyone else while missing what it means for her. Watching her confront her truth is lovely. And Pullman gives the self-absorbed Cameron a quietly resonant soulfulness. So it's endearing to watch these two people connect, finding the focus they need to move forward. And the supporting cast includes scene-stealing veterans who provide plenty of colour along the way.

In his interaction with Cameron and Tova, Marcellus realises that if he assists one, he might also be able to help heal the other. Annoyed by the constant jabber, Marcellus observes, "If humans would just quiet down, perhaps they could make better use of their eyeballs." So amid a series of moving and very tidy discoveries in the final act, the film's most potent note is that perhaps we would find more happiness if we could stay silent long enough to take in the world around us and listen to the people who need us.

themes, language 8.May.26

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