I haven not been watching films as of late. I am not quite sure what happened, but I have somewhat lost interest in feature length films and have found much more interest in certain television shows, of which a few I have written about or mentioned a few times here on Hive already. It is quite a rare event for me to lose interest in films, given I have a strong passion for the world of arthouse cinema and used to be up for watching them whenever possible. Though, as of late, I feel a little bit of burnout with everything, and television shows with significantly shorter runtimes have felt much more appealing to me.
But it was the other day that C'mon C'mon was recommened to me, by someone that I trust enough to recognise a good film when it is presented to them despite them not being overly exposed to the world of arthouse cinema. They did not tell me much about the film, but their brief description of what it was about, alongside some screenshots they took from the film, certainly had me interested to check the film out the next day, despite my struggles with watching things as of late.
I have to say, this film really surprised me. It was an incredibly refreshing experience and one I was not expecting at all. It has a lot of shine to it, and stands out among a sea of modern day releases that lack everything it does: emotion, humanity, connection, and beauty in all aspects. That is to say that I found no flaws in this film, and it was a rare instance in which I found myself astonished at how simple but meaningful its story is. And it made me question just why we fail to both produce and acknowledge films of a similar nature these days.
C'mon C'mon
While C'mon C'mon is a film with a story about an uncle looking after his nephew while his sister deals her husband's mental health issues, or so that is how the film presents itself at a glance, it is in fact a story about sound and how humans listen and interact with each other. How communication shapes us and how listening to each other and our surroundings can help us develop and grow, to create a world that is much better through actual communication. Our protagonist is a lonely sound recordist that works in interviewing members of the youth around the United States of America. His profound interviews detail the struggles of youth as he questions their lives and thoughts on all things that make them who they are: parents, school, their hometowns, and even their thoughts on the future.
These interview segments can be seen and heard throughout the film, with not much to really show the audience outside of providing some context to us that this film is about listening and growth. It plays over scenes of everyday life where we see our characters interacting with the world, and it shows us that these thoughts are forever held within the minds of our youth even if we fail to ask them these questions. It is through this that we get a taste of youth: growing in uncertain times and constant expectations, where adults overlook the problems and thoughts of the youth out of nothing more than unintentional ignorance. Though, it is through the connection that these two characters in particular have that allows them to learn more about each other and come to solving many problems they face, ultimately growing together.
I found myself really enjoying these moments where the interviews took over, and I found it to no surprise at all that these segments were in fact real recordings that were conducted, rather than acted out. This authenticity in the thoughts of everyday real people both made the film more real, but also made the very concept of it much more impactful. It removed the wall of fiction in parts as we see the importance of communication in our lives regardless of age. This is something we rarely see in films, and in fact amplifies the realisation that we often overlook the thoughts and struggles of the youth by almost pretending that such struggles and thoughts fail to exist in the first place.
Shot in black and white, C'mon C'mon is a visually beautiful film as it is audibly. The film is very, very dark in parts, but often enough has just enough focus on specific locations of the frame to remind you where to look. It utilises a strong emphasis on composition as a result: the rule of thirds for a strong example. Though often enough it also utilises leading lines to direct your attention throughout an image and scene where numerous events are taking place. This is most evident in the busy streets of New York, where much of the film takes place. We are essentially told as an audience that these two characters are living lives that are deeply personal, but ultimately their stories are one of many all taking place within the same space at the same time.
It is an important reminder to be given. Where we are reminded of the reality of these events. The are not merely there for entertainment and drama purposes, but to remind us of the difficult lives we all live together without realising, though also as a result of our own unintentional ignorance as we focus on ourselves and fail to communicate with each other.
This style of directing is beautiful not only for those visual aspects, but for the ways that it projects the film's central focus onto us as the audience. Each as different scenes come and go and we hear the many interviews with the youth taking place. Sometimes, these interviews are replaced by dialogue between the characters, as we hear their thoughts and lives shared with each other. Ultimately, it is through talking that gets them through difficult times.
At its core, C'mon C'mon is a film about communication, but it also holds many aspects of parenting to it. Where it portrays the act of parenting as a challenge, but one that is mutually beneficial if done right. That the youth can remind us of what is important in life if we are willing to actually talk and listen to them without dismissing what they say. It tells us that listening and sharing words is what allows us as a society to grow and develop, as we shape our lives and interact with each other. In fact, there are moments where the use of general ambient sound is portrayed as a recording of a moment in time, where it is a piece of time forever yours to be heard again and again.
They mention the beauty of such an event, but we must not fail to realise that this is speaking to us directly. It is a reminder that our conversations, our shared words, can hold such an impact on our lives that they can be felt for the rest of our living time. That these words impact us far more than we realise. With such simplicity, but with such beauty, I have to admit that I loved this film. And I am shocked that it fell under my radar for so long. I guess, to a degree, many failed to share the word of it around. Though, in my case, I was one of the more fortunate ones to be exposed to it. So now, I share it here with Hive. I highly recommend this film!