Starring Stella Velon, Alan Smyth and Todd Karner
“Are you sure it’s for me?”
Stella Velon proves to be a triple threat in her directorial debut, ‘The Critic’ which she also wrote and starred in. Her performance as a talented but uncertain actress is exquisite in creating psychological mystery from the opening scene. The mirror acceptance speech is a recognised hallmark of the strive for fame and success however this actress has already received her award. This spins the perspective and consequently the acceptance speech becomes not a dream but a deep introspection into the actresses own motives and desires. The contrast between the rapturous applause and Velon’s isolation and reticence presents her as vulnerable, both physically and emotionally.
This set up is key in heightening the impact of the film’s antagonist, the Interviewer. Velon communicates the rabbit hole of fakery that fame creates as she holds herself almost unnaturally elegantly, answering all the initial questions with well-rehearsed ease. However, this polished ‘TV’ version of the Actress is not what the Interviewer is here to see and he begins to systematically dismantle her façade. Velon’s artistic choices are excellent, especially with regards to the character of the Interviewer (Alan Smyth). He is simply an amorphous figure, silhouetted against the light, yet the questions he delivers are physical blows, felt by the Actress and audience alike. The weight of the word “you” in Smyths line “You deem your performance believable?” is excruciatingly tangible.
At first, it seems this character is perhaps a literal representation of the faceless media, showing them to be invasive and inescapable. However as his other insinuations, imputations and allusions grow in intensity, becoming more personal, it is clear that the Interviewer shares something more intimate with the Actress. His words snake round Velon’s feet, they trip her up and suffocate her. There is no escape for the audience either; we are held in high tension until the Actress is forced to confront the interviewer head on. However as she stands, releasing herself from the confines of media expectation, the Actress is denied control and dominance in her retaliation as the view switches to the Interviewer’s camera. Her breakdown has been recorded, documented to be shared and judged consequently removing the actresses ownership of her own anger and emotions.
At last the actress is able to tear herself away from what feels like a gruelling psychological evaluation however emotional exhaustion has set in. We see, first hand, some of the links to a past that the Actress has tried so hard to move away from. Her critic has succeeded in demolishing her façade.
Velon has created a wonderful illusion of reality and deceit that encompasses real issues in modern society. The script is a powerful foundation which is intensified tenfold by the performances of the protagonists. Stella Velon’s debut film, ‘The Critic’ is hopefully the start of many to come!
Find out more at https://www.stellavelon.com/
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