MovieChat Forums > My Life Without Me (2003) Discussion > The reasons why the movie doesn't work f...

The reasons why the movie doesn't work for me (contains some spoilers)


I think I see what Coixet was trying to do with this movie, but she didn't succeed. She didn't manage to make it work -- at least for me. I'll try to list the things I didn't like about the movie, in no particular order:

* The movie is supposed to be a European-style film (lots of dialogue and character development) set in the US/Canada, but it just seems unnatural to me. I'm not complaining about not sticking to the 'rules' or expectations of genres/standards. It's just that some of the lines are just forced. For example, when Ann vomits at work and explains to her colleague why she's vomiting (happy commercials, her father being in jail...). Sorry but it seems unnatural to me. Similarly, it tries to offer this documentary/social realism tone, but then is peppered with all this poetic symbolism/clichés. For example, Lee not having any furniture because his girlfriend left him and he has to be a tormented soul. P-lease.

* All the embedded stories that people tell to each other. Characters tell all these deep personal stories to each other, full of metaphors and symbols, even if they just met each other. For example, 'neighbor' Ann tells the story about the twins who died, just minutes after meeting 'main character' Ann. Plus, it sounds to me like all the stories/anecdotes are written by the same person (obviously, someone had to write the script, but they should have tried to adapt them to the tone/style of each character). Maybe if the film was set in a place where this is more of a natural thing, it would have worked; for example, in California, where everyone tells their life stories to strangers. But still, I must insist, all these anecdotes used the same tone and felt forced. Too many, too similar.

* Cultural references: One thing that stands out is how cultural references are included, trying to make the film look genuinely (north) American. References to film and literature, captain crunch cereals, etc. It feels as if the director was trying to fit all (the little) she knows about American culture in this film, even if it didn't fit the characters' social/cultural universe. Again (sorry to insist), it felt unnatural and forced.

* The 'things to do before I die' list. Some originality, please? I won't bother to repeat how many films have already used this; it's already been thoroughly discussed on the board. I'm also bothered by one more thing: if there's such a list, why don't we see her strike down the items as she completes them? If the director was just trying to explain why Ann is behaving in such a way, she could have used other resources (Ann's voiceover, Ann writing a journal, Ann recording a tape for herself...)

* Poor white people: Certainly this type of people exist in the US. But there are very few films which have managed to capture it. And this one also FAILS miserably at it, using all the possible clichés.

* Spanish/Portuguese actors: Leonor Watling, Maria de Medeiros... It seems to me they don't fit at all in the film, and they were just included in the cast because they're friends with the director. Especially Maria de Medeiros (the hairdresser). The movie is supposed to be serious and realistic, and there's this colorful/comedy-like world of the hairdresser, which breaks the tone. Add to that the small references to Spain (for example the 'Spain' t-shirt the husband wears at some point). They just make the film look less 'real' to me, as I see the hand of the director (in a negative way; as if I saw the hand in the middle of the frame) throughout the film.

So, basically, the director is trying to do too much; she's trying to include everything she knows in this one film. And it feels saturated, unnatural. It just doesn't work -- at least for me. Do you feel the same way?

I gave it a six because at least the acting is generally good and saves the day.



Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers!

reply

I felt the movie is very Canadian. The way they talk(except for ruffalo), the intonations and the way they act towards one another. Of course, i am canadian, so they all looked like people from my homeland.

And the captain crunch box, it was in english and french, not American at all (that and the parmalat milk).

reply