Film review
Kajillionaire review
Written and directed by Miranda July (Me and You and Everyone We Know), this comedy-drama is an original, hilarious, and creative story about gaining self-love and the importance of touch.
The master plan
Trained in the art of stealing and deceiving people by her parents Theresa (Debra Winger) en Robert (Richard Jenkins), 26-year-old Old Dolio (Evan Rachel Wood) questions her parents. Tricking people is all she knows until the family meets a stranger, Melanie (Gina Rodriguez), who is happy to join them in their coming scam. The new member’s inclusion and the parent’s interaction with her trigger Old Dolio to analyse her life and upbringing.
Evan Rachel Wood excels playing Old Dolio
From gestures and music to props and mise-en-scene, Kajillionaire is an original and entertaining film that reflects the authentic quirkiness of Miranda July’s films and her look at the ‘ordinary life’ and human connection. The pace is full of non-stop funny and also odd situations, which makes the time fly.
Kajillionaire is all about the strange and quirky personages in this story. The excellent acting of all the cast is unquestionable, but especially the performance of Evan Rachel Wood. Her voice and gestures bring this odd character to life and make us forget that, indeed, Old Dolio is just a regular 26-year-old trying to figure out what she wants in life.
Physical contact
In this quarter-life-crisis of Old Dolio, the sense of touch plays a relevant role. Something that she had lacked since birth, physical contact is the pressure-cooker that activates her actions, but it is also the way that she finally finds her free self.
The feelings of freedom that Melanie embodies, leave Old Dolio untested and puzzled, as Melanie dresses how she likes, plays the piano, and is sexually free. Old Dolio is the opposite of Melanie. One of them wonders what touch is and what it means, while the other is familiar with unsolicited physical contact. The sense of touch unites them.
The turning point of their behaviour is a spacing and hilarious situation that affects Old Dolio and her parents. As the family is peculiar and fears light earthquakes, Old Dolio’s fear and turning point enables her to open up, and it is as particular as she is. Through the sense of touch, Old Dolio realises something about her life and herself, while the same no-touch principles restrict her parents of stepping into her world.
Conclusion
Kajillionaire is a highly original film, comprising talent everywhere. It delves into questions of love, family, parenting, and maturity through a narrative of quality and brilliant acting. A gem that demonstrates the weird genius of Miranda July.
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This review was first published on Surrounded by films.
