Despite my aversion to Korine's first film, Gummo, I found this sixth dogma 95 film heart wrenching and beautiful, hardly the depraved fantasy of Gummo. I hear that this film stretches the rules of the manifesto at nearly every step, to my relief. I am glad that the deaths on screen did not actually occur... Regardless, this is a sincere look at dysfunctional family life done masterfully in a comedic-tragic way. Werner Herzog as the hick father vicariously living through his son never ceases to entertain (and this is not just because I find him the most entertaining man alive).
The film oddly encourages the pursuit of ones dreams. Herzog tends to be cruelly honest, abrasive, and abusive to encourage his son to be a wrestling champion. Chloe Sevigny, the mother, sister, or lover (the truth was obscured), represents an innocence and becomes a pure symbol of goodness. She is strong and creates an inseparable bond among the family. There is a beautiful part when she dances in the street with an umbrella intercut with the daughter dancing on the ice, a true moment of cinema magic.
Julien is believable as a schizophrenic boy. He does not fall prey to the cliches as hipness of the disorder as seen in Ron Howards A Beautiful Mind (2001), David Cronenbergs Spider (2002), and Richard Kellys Donnie Darko (2001). Julien holds the audiences interest while at the same time is sympathetic but not lovable, which makes him an interesting, well-developed character with a life unique unto itself. One shot exquisitely captures Juliens puerile retrogression.
The movie itself has some very interesting techniques. First, the grainy look adds to the roughness of the film. Second, the snapshots tell a story without revealing the entire sequence. Third, the effect on the last shot creates a dazzling moment of beauty. Fourth, the occasional slow shutter speed reflects on the way life trails on at times. Fifth, the handheld camera shots add an immediacy. The combination of these techniques creates a unique world and experience.
Moments of joy intertwine with engulfing sadness. This sincere and beautiful film does capture life in a unique way for which I will give it a very high recommendation.