Ronald Bronstein’s Frownland is a character study of a sad, miserable person named Keith Sontag. Keith stammers when he talks. He begins every thought as an unfinished metaphor and never gets to the point, even when at his angriest. He has a lot of reasons to be angry. His roommate Charles is composing music loudly, and not paying his share of the rent. His girlfriend Laura is stabbing herself, and him, for no apparent reason.His boss, Carmine, is unsympathetic to his inability to sell coupons door-to-door.
Keith is played by Dore Mann.Mann makes Keith uncomfortable to watch. Whether it is with a running nose, or a silent lack of protest when everyone continually pushes him away and down. Strangely, his performance generates a sympathy for him. It is a hard part, but Mann, an amateur, makes it work.
Frownland is rough, close, and loud. Bronstein purposefully uses close ups in close spaces (apartments, buildings, etc…). It is uncomfortable and gets worse throughout the film. Bronstein also uses an unconventional script. He even switches his main character to Charles for a half hour for a change. In addition, Bronstein has made a noisy film. Quiet moments are filled with background noise of the city. It is unnerving, long and wandering.
Frowland is a challenging film. It is not likeable. It is not nice. It leaves its audience asking questions of the characters and story.