Netflix notes

[sasha_feather]

Short-term 12

Recommended to me by jesse_the_k; this indie film is about a short-term care facility for foster kids. It's from the perspective of a young woman who works there, Grace, who is a survivor of abuse and spent time in foster care. She is dating a fellow employee, Mason. They and their fellow employees clearly care deeply about the kids they are working with, and there is a lot of inherent drama and reality in the situation. I loved the way this film focused on relationships and the struggle to express oneself after experiencing abuse and trauma. It is a quiet film that focuses on hope, while not shying away from reality. I think this would make a good TV series too! Content notes for: self-harm (on screen), discussions of incest, discussion of abortion, physical abuse.

The History of Future Folk: Anti-Rec

I thought I would love this: a silly comedy about a space alien whose plot to colonize Earth is foiled when he discovers music. Unfortunately, the writer, John Mitchell, is one of those people who apparently thinks that stalking is romantic. Don't watch it.


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After the main character fails in his mission, another alien is sent after him: Kevin. Kevin is a foolish schlub character, who stalks a beautiful cop named Carmen. For unknown reasons she does not arrest him or punch him out. The most disturbing scene is where he shoots her with his stun ray, which immobilizes her for about 30 minutes. He lays her on the bed, explains to her who he is, then serenades her with a song he wrote her in Spanish, while Carmen watches, unable to move or speak. She look frightened. At the end of this horrifying display of power, he kisses her on the forehead and escapes out the window (Kevin is wanted by the cops).

Later Kevin follows Carmen into a theater space where she is attending tango lessons with a date. Since Kevin doesn't have any money, he knocks out the old woman who is staffing the desk in order to gain entry. Physical assault is funny, or something? Kevin dances a tango with Carmen-- another scene that makes him look powerful and her look powerless-- and when the cops show up, he again flees.

It is seriously so gross and creepy.

Also Bill, the main character, has been lying to his wife for years and year. Not just about his background as a space alien, but also about his employment, and presumably other things.

Towards the end of the movie, a character (the bar owner) conspires to lock a door of his bar so that Bill's wife can't leave the bar where Bill is performing music. Because physical entrapment is romantic?

So awful. >:[

Comments

[thingswithwings]

thank you for the rec and for the anti-rec! both useful to me. :) Ugh, that "serenading" scene in The History of Future Folk sounds AWFUL.

[susanreads]

Yikes, that second film sounds dreadful! Would you like to post about it on anti_recs? If you're not up to doing that because of (*checks post security*) other reasons, I could copy what you wrote here if that's OK?

[sasha_feather]

Sure, I can do that! :)

[susanreads]

Thanks! I added a couple of tags.