Following in the moody footsteps of John Tarzan, director Max Beasley takes us in a new direction by following the love and loss between two women.
Angeles is based on a song of the same name by Elliot Smith. The fingerstyle guitar that weaves underneath the monologue dances in tandem with the narrative. We see a fragment of a relationship – ones side of the story. Brooke McBride provides the narration, which has a lyrical quality. It sounds like a letter or poem – a confession. We see memories between the pair. And although they look like happy memories, the words are filled with regrets.
Lyrically, the film reflects Beasley’s writing from her previous film, John Tarzan. We hang on the words because they sound important. They draw you in to a microcosm of another person’s world. The visual styling is different than her previous work, but striking nonetheless. An almost pop-like MTV vibe is used in some instances, with creative use of filters, grain and colour. Brooke McBride’s narration ties the film together as she suffuses Beasley’s words with emotion and meaning. Although a break up is at the centre of the story, the love that was once in full bloom lingers on in the fallen petals still fresh from the stem, but bound soon to wither and dry. Analisa Burns stars on screen next to McBride and their chemistry is evident. We have a window into their lives, but are left with many questions unanswered about the nature of their story.
A sensitive and subtle film.