You have to wonder what takes longer – coming to the realization that you’ve made the wrong choice, or being able to move on from it.

Having debuted well earlier this year at Sundance, MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE showed up and TIFF and caught many people’s attention here too. The film is the story of Martha aka “Marcy May” (Elizabeth Olson). As the film begins, she is living in some sort of commune…but it doesn’t take long for her to walk off into the woods with just the clothes on her back. Why? Well, we’re not sure exactly. What we do see is Martha drop a dime to Lucy (who we eventually learn is Martha’s sister) is a confused and desperate attempt for help. Help from what? Again, we’re not sure exactly.

MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE stays rather haunting throughout. It tells its story using this beautiful pendulum effect – going back and forth between a damaged Martha imposing on her sister and her husband Ted, and a bewildered May Marlene being drawn further and further into the commune life through the teachings of its persuasive leader Patrick (John Hawkes). Watching her struggle through normal interactions with her family, we get this unavoidable feeling that something really terrible happened at that commune. However, the film is in no hurry to tell us, and that’s what keeps us in the room with Martha, when a sane person would back away out of self preservation.

This is my first time watching Elizabeth Olsen on-screen, and I’m left wondering why in the world her Hollywood family left her out of the loop for so very long. She is truly talented, and able to portray a mix of broken and brazen with an effortless grace. She carries this film – both in the way she is subject to Patrick’s intimidation and likewise the way she’s able to cut her gracious family members to the core. Then there’s the aforementioned John Hawkes who builds beautifully on what he brought to WINTER’S BONE last year. Here he plays a false prophet…a man who’s able to bring you in with country charm, but has a viciousness behind his eyes that flashes anytime you disagree with him. Watching the two actors play off each other is a big part of what makes the film work.

MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE is a low-boil film that makes you understand early on that something is very wrong. What elevates it is the way it spends two hours giving the gentlest brushstrokes that tell you that the “something very wrong” is a lot worse than you thought. It’s a gritty, grainy, pebble in your shoe…and it’s not to be missed.

17 Replies to “TIFF Review: MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE”

  3. Gosh, I was so pissed that this was playing at an awkward time at the NZFF and I couldn’t see it – it’s one of my most anticipated! Ah well, I believe it comes out here next January, can’t wait!

    1. So given that I saw films that started at both midnight and nine a.m., I must ask: What qualifies for you as “Awkward Time”? Did it conflict with something else you really wanted to see? Because Lord knows I had that problem like crazy.

      1. Well, this was playing at 8.30pm. Which was awkward because a) the cinema it was playing at is an hour away, so by the time the film played and we got home it would have been midnight, and b) that night was a school night and c) I still can’t actually drive (damn you manual cars!) so my mother would have had to take me, and I don’t know what she would have done to entertain herself while I was watching the movie. So basically, awkward times are anything after 6pm! This is why I barely ever go to the cinemas 🙁

        1. You weren’t kidding – that is awkward. Don’t sweat it though, they’ll keep making solid films and when you get to driving yourself around you’ll be able to soak them up to your heart’s content.

  4. I was wondering if Hawkes’ performance would be too similar to Winter’s Bone, but it seems that shouldn’t be the case.

    Consider this on my to-see list now.

      1. I hadn’t heard anything about it until I saw a trailer in front of ‘The Guard’ and I was already becoming more unsettled as it went on.

  5. “Low-boil” is a spot on description.

    I saw it at MIFF and thought it was great. The editing and cinematography is especially impressive, and really contributes to that sinister quality. And Elizabeth Olsen is destined for great things, no doubt about it.

  6. Yeah, this is one of my favourites so far this year. Saw it at both SFF and MIFF! Loved the cinematography, and the feeling of unease present throughout the film. Also, I’d love to see Olsen and Hawkes recognised for their performances!

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