MOVIE MONDAYS: BUTTER ON THE LATCH
Last week Tuesday I found myself heading back at the cinema, ready to challenge my views on how stories should be told cinematically. Butter on the Latch ended up with the winning ticket with its promise of Balkan folk music and experimental storytelling techniques and it did not disappoint. Josephine Decker's debut feature film stripped away all my preconceived notions of film structure and left me feeling slightly bemused but also free to see beyond what is... beyond the norm.
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Source: Josephine Decker
Butter on the Latch, to me, is a story of young woman's struggle - or should I say dealings? - with life. Okay, even I have to admit that that description was pretty vague, even for me. Let's try that again. Butter on the Latch centres on the relationship between Sarah and her good friend Isolde and how it reacts to the somewhat disquieting events that unfold, some of which takes place at a Balkan folk camp that they both decided to attend. Better? I think so.
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Source: Josephine Decker
Anyway, this trippy, unique and captivating film which was released in 2013 was directed by Josephine Decker (Thou Wast Mild and Lovely; Bi the Way), shot chronologically and filled with scenes with mostly improvised dialogue. And one thing that you will notice immediately is the fluidity of the focus of the film - or should I say camera? Sometimes the camera is shaky or the entire view is out of focus forcing you to consider exactly how the character may be feeling in that precise moment. Other times it is focused on something seemingly insignificant but lingers long enough for you to find beauty in it. Let's just say there is no way you will watch this film and not be intrigued by the relationship between director and the director of photography - who in this instance is Ashley Conner.
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Source: Josephine Decker
In terms of plot, Butter on the Latch draws you into the confusing and slightly dark world of Sarah and Isolde that's filled with intrigue, lots of unanswered questions and disorienting moments that force you to broaden your imagination. And the main cast, whose chemistry was undeniable, comprised of Sarah Small, Isolde Chae-Lawrence and Charlie Hewson (Going the Distance). The lack of clarity in the film is what I think makes Butter on the Latch such an interesting watch and one I would like to see again to try and make sense of things. But alas, even movies that do elaborate a lot more on their characters' backstories than in this film, I am still left with a few unanswered questions.
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If the opportunity arises for you to see Butter on the Latch and you decide to take it, I would really love to hear your thoughts on this thought-provoking film that blurs the lines between hallucinations and reality.
Mo x