249. Saint Frances; movie review

SAINT FRANCES
Cert 15
100 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language, sex, sex references

The older I become, the more often I find myself writing that a film did not resonate because I wasn't one of its target audience.
This is very much the case with Saint Frances which has chimed so loudly in 2020 that it has been hailed the best indie movie of the year.
I presume those who gave it high plaudits were women, aged between 20 and 40, with whom many of the issues will resonate.
Honestly, Kelly O'Sullivan's lead character, Bridget, irritated me for a good hour until I finally began to grasp the points of Alex Thompson's picture.
Bridget is a 34-year-old who serves tables as she tries to figure out what to do with her life.
She is initially presented as vacuous - self-centred and without the impetus or imagination to grab life.
Thus, it wasn't too difficult for me to find her irritating - especially as she then seems to believe that she is beset by bad luck rather than lacking in gumption.
The fact is that she consistently makes duff decisions - specifically when it comes to relationships.
Anyway, she makes a limp attempt at changing things by going, totally unprepared, to an interview for a job as a nanny.
Despite her pitiful introduction, she gets the job and very gradually she and her charge, Frances (Ramona Edith Williams), warm to each other.
Williams is easily the most alluring element of Saint Frances. She is simultaneously precocious and cute - and delivers her lines with impeccable timing.
Meanwhile, her parents (Charin Alvarez and Lily Mojekwu) are in perpetual meltdown over their new baby.
There are a number of social issues tackled during Thompson's movie - from periods to abortion, public breastfeeding to gay marriage.
These combined with their inevitable love of Frances, may attract women in their 30s like moths to a light bulb on a dark night.
Unfortunately, I am on a different page and wondered why Bridget was so damned needy and, simultaneously, irresponsible.
I'm afraid that might be because of the dad in me.

Reasons to watch: Sideways takes on modern life
Reasons to avoid: Takes far too long to get into its stride

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: Yes
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 5/10

Did you know? In 2019, there were 1,146,400 people involved in professional child care in the United States.

The final word. Kelly O'Sullivan: "I think we learn that from our society: everybody’s living their ‘best life’ on Instagram and if you feel like you’re not living up to that, it can make you feel very inferior. But I’m starting to learn that that’s not so important – to reach other people’s level of success.” NME

Share this post