Film Reviews

Old Joy

• Rating:
• Director: Kelly Reichardt.
• Starring: Will Oldham, Daniel London, Tanya Smith, Robin Rosenberg.
• Details: US / 76mins (15).

Set against the backdrop of the Iraq war, two old friends - Mark (London) and Kurt (Oldham) - decide to take a retreat to the hot springs in the Oregon wilderness. We get the impression that the two friends were once very much alike, but time (the amount of which is never specified) has passed and both have moved apart. Mark is about to be a father while Kurt, living on the fringes of society, is slowly disappearing from the world. Sparse and minimalist are the words that pop into your mind watching Old Joy as it feels like there's only about five lines in the whole film. Of course, there's more but director Reichardt doesn't let dialogue do the work for her, and apart from Oldham's "I feel like there's something between us and I want it to go away," she lets discreet action and brooding atmosphere dictate the relationship between the two. Old Joy is like a blank canvas: the lack of plot allows the viewer to bring his or her own emotions to the film, as we've all had best friends relegated to just acquaintances without ever really knowing why or when it happened. Not a lot happens and the remarkably short running time might be a godsend to those bored out of their minds; but Old Joy sticks in the mind long after the credits roll.

Review by Gavin Burke