Jazzy

Jazzy
Jazzy

Friendship is a funny yet strong connection that people share or even experience over the years. Actually, this is the case during any stage or age in life. But there is a much more different, intense, and unique feel to it and that is what most of us can relate to as youngsters. Do you still remember where you made your first friends or the individuals called your BFFs? It is completely a whole new ballgame when comparing it with making friends when you’re young and when you are an adult. This is not to say that our later and mature relationships are any less important, but these youthful bonds are simply stored in a completely different place in our minds and within our hearts. This takes us towards Jazzy, which is the latest direction by Morrisa Maltz after The Unknown Country which is an interesting perspective for any new viewer.

The film is centered around Jasmine (Jasmine Bearkiller Shangreaux), who is best friends with Syriah (Syriah Fool Head Means). We see the evolution of their friendship but in a rather discontinuous manner with leeway given as to the speed with which things evolve. There are instances that flashback us to younger Jazzy and Syriah as children, and it does not appear obsessed with linear coherence. The strength of this film lies in its character’s anticipation of the end, with the hope to catch up at a later point. Merited emotions that are also controlled flow out along with what has been unsaid in the focal point of the understanding. For this purpose, Maltz and Andrew Hajek (the cinematographer) act as one to the camera towards the audience.

Three individuals are seated around a table, smiling and chatting in a colorful room with plenty of light directed at them. Some images can be seen in the walls that are placed behind them.

The framing and editing techniques are used to articulate the extent and nature of social ties formed or missed by the protagonists in the film. For the most part, it is hardly a chance occurrence that the viewer is not presented with any adult faces throughout the long part of the film, only hearing, instead, the sound of voices. Looking at it from the perspective of a child, I think we were at our most disinterested when adults were involved. More like, they only stifled the enjoyment that we would otherwise have had. But, of course, someone has to be there to fill the void between a child and an adult who we look forward to meeting. This, I think, is the reason why even later in the film, Lily Gladstone comes out as one of the family members of Jazzy with all the screen presence required of a movie star with very few lines to spare So, for me, this has been the major attempt of the movie as it has been a directing master class that has made grand statements without hardly any dialogue a more focused task with firmly defined characterizations headed towards a great filmic moment.

At the same time, depriving the audience of adult presence on screen directs the movie in a direction with all the risks related to that, most notably, having the vast majority of the dialogue, as well as all relevant conflicts, be uttered by child actors. Yes, of course, throughout the 90-minute running time, there were weaknesses here and there as there always will be, and there were here too. However, what these young actors as well as their decision to use most of their real names in the cast brought was an authenticity that is difficult to bring into question.

It is impossible to avoid recalling the stylistic choices of real children, even in those awkward acting moments. It is impossible for something to be flawless, there will be imperfections. And all of that is shown here, the good and the bad.

But really, this is one of the central themes of this film. Syriah will be forced to relocate because, as we all do as children, their parents are nonsensical. In a fascinating transition that Fool Head Mean exudes with disconnection, dismay, and emotional isolation, one has to be prepared for such a transition. The training the amount of time spent and the skill of an actor allow her to deliver a highly charged moment between her and Jazzy towards the latter part which I feel will be a highlight of the best scenes for this year.

Even when the character of Jazzy may be disconcerting to some of the viewers for the slow pacing of the movie, particularly in the first half, I would not like to think that it is neglected. Throughout the event one will see great talent. Maltz is obviously a strong stylist and does not attempt to conform to stereotypes of what a motion picture should be.

It is also worth mentioning that she has also directed and produced documentaries with Ingrid, which is visible here as well. There is a certain way in which shots are framed that does have an element of realism, which is often times lacking in films. Morthen, however, did overact some child-acting moments but did not apply this to Jasmine Shangreaux and Syriah Fool Head Means. These are nearly perfect child acting. These children not only possess the charisma to engage, but are able to evoke emotional responses without the audience realizing they are being manipulated. If you stay for Jazzy, expect a lot of rewards.

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