Movie: Mammal (2016)
This movie is uncomfortable. It tells the story of a middle-aged woman, Margaret, who offers shelter to a homeless troubled youth, Joe, while grieving the death of her estranged son that she abandoned long ago. We tag along on a journey through the development of their relationship, a relationship that reveals parts of both her and him that they try to hide from the eyes of their neighbours and community. But not from us.
This story is about grief and trauma. It's about feeling unloved and trying to hold on to the only person who seems to understand us. It's a quiet and confusing narrative that makes us question our own experiences and values.
Because although common, grief and trauma are complicated. They are complex. We deal with loss and adversity in the best way we can, with the tools that we have. And those of us who don't have good tools, who don't know any better - we often turn to self-destruction.
I think this movie is about that, at it's core. It's about two completely different and unrelated people who have their own troubles and traumas and find themselves unable to cope. And in the midst of all the chaos, they find each other in more ways than one. In ways that make us feel uncomfortable and make us doubt ourselves and our own interpretations because it feels so right, but it also doesn't, at the same time.
The camera work in "Mammal" is phenomenal, giving us hints on the developing sexual attraction between Margaret and Joe. The physical touch between them is one of the main pathways that alert us to that dynamic. Both of them feel confused, maybe as confused as the viewers, finding themselves nurturing a mother-son bond while unconsciously feeling an undeniable attraction towards each other.
An attraction that grows until it snaps. It feels sure but also doubtful and wrong. Many interactions between them are awkward, likely due to the intensity and quickness of the feelings that arise. They get to know themselves through each other.
One of my favorite parts of this movie is the water theme. It is used to shed some light on the psychological states of the main characters, especially Margaret's, provoking a melancholy that betters the experience of the viewers. It is a window that enables us to be aware of the constant suffering of each character.
Because even though they found each other, they are still suffering.
Overall, it is a movie that leaves us with even more questions than the ones we started off with. It is prone to different interpretations and meanings, which I think is extremely captivating. I believe this movie makes us project ourselves on the characters and the narrative. This whole post is my interpretation, these words are me and my story. I highly recommend watching it and finding your own perspective!
Disclaimer: This is 100% my opinion and the meaning I built around the movie by myself ♡ Feel free to interact!