Last night, I stumbled across the American film (on the streaming channel I follow): The Invite, released in July of this year. The title is fitting for the story it presents.
What's it about? It's about a married couple (Angela and Joe), somewhat unremarkable residents of an apartment in Los Angeles, and their neighbors (Keyla and Hawk), who engage in a very expressive sexual encounter, to the point of being disturbing. This "sexualized" couple, the wife (Angela) has invited to spend the evening at her apartment, unbeknownst to the husband (Joe). This encounter will feature intense moments in the participants' arguments and failed attempts at intersexual relations. In the end, only the original couple remains.
Trailer:
What's important is everything that unfolds from this encounter. It's about the struggle between two ways of approaching life, where the host couple seems to be exposed as an "unhappy" condition due to the many problems left unaddressed or unspoken, and the "happy" couple's, though not entirely so, as the intricacies of their apparent passions are also revealed.
However, director Olivia Wilde's vision, considering her previous work, doesn't seem to fall into a conservative approach.
After observing the film's visual narrative, our appreciation leads us to a first-rate assessment of it.
I will highlight, first and foremost, the outstanding performances of Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen as the mature and formal couple, as well as those of Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton as the young and liberal couple. All four embody these unions with their distinct characteristics.
Angela and Joe are a circumspect and quiet couple with a daughter, leading a routine life, experiencing some feelings of isolation and disappointment. Meanwhile, Keyla and Hawk, new neighbors with a supposedly carefree and daring life, seem to be "on top of the world," as the saying goes, with a "polymorphous" sexuality, to use the Freudian reference.
During tonight's encounter between these guests—for both couples receive an "invitation"—masks fall away and truths emerge, some deeply conflicted and painful, which will lead to the story's ending in a beautiful and comforting scene.
This is a comedy-drama, as it does indeed have humorous and relaxed moments, along with serious and poignant ones. It boasts effective direction by Olivia Wilde, who also plays the character of Angela, following an effective script written by Rashida Jones, an update of a 2020 film written and directed by Cesc Gay.
Adam Newport-Berra's cinematography presents a skillful interplay of shots within the enclosed interior of this apartment and its rooms, with a very cozy lighting that reflects the emotions at play.
It's a film worth watching, one that challenges us but also provides enjoyable moments.
Translated with Google Translator
Rating: 100/100
