A VARIETY OF MYSTERIES – SLIFF Review

Review by Dane Marti

A VARIETY OF MYSTERIES has a good spirit. It will charm anyone who possesses a pulse. That’s most film viewers, right? It’s a tapestry of funny conversations and interesting encounters.

Violet (Sunyatta McDermott) likes to stroll around – not drive. Sometimes, she enjoys taking photographs at interesting and different local spots around the stupendous city of St. Louis, Missouri. And she has a nice camera, not a bloody cell phone. She has a unique and cute way of dressing which shows her independence. She also enjoys posing and standing around. This isn’t a criticism. There’s a lot of nice posing in the film, partially because the actress and character look smashing simply posing! Because I bring this aspect up, some folks will think that the character isn’t very deep, but I think Violet has more going on underneath her exterior; McDermott’s subtle performance – and the overall film – connect together nicely. There’s no doubt: She’s a great actress.

Violet’s head is in the clouds – and this is a good thing. She likes to talk about the weather and places she’s never been. All the acting is handled in a very underplayed way – realistic.

Now, Violet works at a hip, antique clothing store with an old, sardonic hipster. The film’s Director, Devin Devon, plays this latter role in an entertaining way: Devin’s character, ordinarily slightly inebriated, is portrayed realistically in subtle and an under-the radar-type of way. Cool.

There is also is third woman, a younger girl working in the store: She is very natural and pleasant in front of the camera; her role is not – showy –  but is integral to the glue that holds the film together. I also loved the store. You could almost smell it. And you could tell that it wasn’t just contrived for the movie, but a true and wild place.

Violet doesn’t have many friends. Well – at least this is what Violet wants the world to believe. The point is, she’s definitely a free spirit. She is romantic, lives in a dream world, and looks through dumpsters. She Rocks! She is looking for things– Special things in life that many people don’t notice since they’re busily trying to make a buck. Too bad for those people, I think.

Underneath the surface, though, Violet holds something in – something troubles her. Violet is a narcissistic. The walls of her house are a lovely blue/another room bright yellow. Mostly, the main character drinks and watches silent films (a sublime watercolor of frozen passion flowing across her face) and even occasionally goes to her job. Most of the dialogue is also clever and different. The film has a human element that is sincerely nice, as seen in some of the best foreign films through the cinematic ages.

The photography and pacing are outstanding: single, outstandingly composed shots are beautifully lit and framed –  they reminded me of the painter, Edward Hopper’s work. The movie smoothly captures precious elements of life in which people appear to be doing very little: Shots through windows of people dancing, people just doing stuff. This is life and the director loves showing us the cool things they do! Life lived in small, cute moments! Classical music and Bachelor Pad music plays throughout the flick, but never drown out or distort what is going on in the story; used like seasoning, it enhances the work.

The film has nice attention to detail. Even St. Louis also looks cool: very stately, Middle Western, but also strangely hip. It presents a good image of the old city  -a place where a diverse group of people work and play.

The movie is subtle and underrated and not like any movie I’ve seen before. It isn’t trying to be a Blockbuster. It isn’t a Genre film. It has a kinship with foreign film as well as a bit of the independent film world. The pacing and editing is very simple, but foreign and coooooooool as well. One of the films themes is a person trying to retain a childlike view of the world. It isn’t all good: people deal with loneliness and isolation, whether self inflicted or otherwise (as well as living in a fantasy playing movie world – people drink a lot in this movie. The characters almost seem to regard their unique mixed drinks as zany new party favors, colorful surprises pulled out of a toy chest.

The best thing about the film is Sunyatta, although the dialogue and direction by Devon is first rate – not to forget all the other actors who all work as a team – never overacting. I’m not sure if they have much background in acting, but the director knew exactly what to subtly pull from their performances, what was vital. He makes it click! Director Devon has a way with scenes that reminds me of the director Jim Jarmusch’s work. Of course, he has a style all his own. He is a major new talent in the independent filmmaking scene.

If there is any justice in the world (sometimes it doesn’t look like there is) both the lead actress and the filmmaker should have long and superb future careers. I hope so. I was taken aback.

It is a cool and different film (different in a good way), but don’t watch the film if you want zombies destroying humanity while Bruce Willis makes snarky comments. This cinematic poem is both humorous and charming! For me, it’s somewhat similar to ordering a pizza in Europe. You might think you’ll get the obligatory U.S. type of pizza, but you’ll be surprised and delighted. And this independent film delighted me. Although it focuses on women and their view of the world for the most part, I wouldn’t call it a chick flick. It’s a Human Flick. A viewer shouldn’t watch this film expecting a complex plot. This is a languid film full of small gestures and humorous, quirky moments. Dig it.

A VARIETY OF MYSTERIES screens as part of the 21st Annual Whitaker Saint Louis International Film Festival on Monday , Nov 12th at 9:30pm at the Tivoli Theater