Jealousy an oft-talked about yet overlooked aspect of the human condition. The appropriateness of feeling envious of another or protective over one’s partner can be a hot topic when discussing relationships, but jealousy as a natural part of the human condition is something that many people don’t consider when weighing people’s propensity toward it. A new film takes an esoteric peek at jealousy and its effect on us all.
Black Bear follows Allison (Aubrey Plaza), an actress who is occupying a cabin for the weekend with Gabe (Christopher Abbott) and Blair (Sarah Gadon). The three engage in a calculated game of desire and jealousy that blurs the boundaries between autobiography and invention. It’s a mind trip of a film that makes the viewer question just what is real and what is fantasy even before we get to the answer of what it all means. The film plays out essentially as two separate stories within a larger narrative, with both stories serving as commentary on both manipulation and jealousy. Each vignette follows a couple whose relationships have existing fractures that begin to break further with the introduction of a third party who arouses interest in one party and jealousy in another. In both cases, watching the development of this envious love triangle play out is like watching a game of chess, particularly between Allison and Blair. Director Lawrence Levine does an excellent job in depicting the tension that arises from jealousy, specifically through his direction of the cast and use of the camera to focus on characters’ faces in specific moments, most notably during the trio’s tense first dinner together. Through their facial expressions, viewers are able to almost read the characters’ thoughts as they process what is happening in real time.
The film’s structure in setting up separate stories and vantage points of the characters within the greater story offers an opportunity for Levine display his full range of abilities. The second vignette which features Gabe as a director and Allison and Blair as his featured actresses, with Allison as his real-life girlfriend, utilizes handheld camerawork to differentiate its setting and aid in communicating the switch in perspective through its visuals. Although they keep their same names, the three actors portray different characters in both parts of the film with different motivations and personalities, all of which Plaza, Gadon, and Abbott handle capably. Each actor switches between emotions from jealous to manipulative to sad interchangeably with equal amount of skill and ability. Plaza especially displays her talents as both a dramatic actress and the sardonic, dark comedian that first landed her notoriety. Much like Plaza likes to keep people on edge and confused as to her tone and intent in real life, that same personality shines through in her performance.
Black Bear is an ambitious film that is sure to satisfy the indie arthouse loving cinephiles who enjoy other slightly more abstract and esoteric fare like Persona. While its niche feel and Rubik’s Cube story may be a turn-off for some viewers, it is worth checking out for Aubrey Plaza’s turn as Allison, adding to the pile of her recent critically acclaimed performances.
Image: Momentum Pictures
