I grew up around musicals – after all, I was raised by two Jewish parents from New York City. As such, I have a healthy appreciation for the stage. For whatever reason though, musical films aren’t really my thing. Of course there are a select few I love – my favorite being John Waters’ campy “Cry Baby” of course – but when I hear a new musical film is out, I don’t exactly jump out of my seat and run to the nearest movie theatre. Which is why I was relatively reluctant to watch “God Help the Girl.” But with a soundtrack consisting solely of Belle & Sebastian songs, the main cast being made up of Emily Browning, Olly Alexander, and Hannah Murray, and that fact that my dinner was getting cold as I was indecisively trying to decide to watch on netflix, I thought, “what the hell.”
“God Help the Girl” is a 2014 British musical drama film that was written and directed by Stuart Murdoch (the lead singer and songwriter of Belle & Sebastian). The film came about following a Kickstarter campaign to turn songs from the album “God Help the Girl,” into a film. The songs from the album feature female vocalists singing about the problems encountered during the transition from childhood to adulthood.
These songs are used to tell the story of a girl called Eve, who has high hopes of becoming a musician. After leaving the psychiatric hospital, where she has been staying due to her anorexia nervosa and depression, she meets another aspiring musician, James, who works as a lifeguard during the day. James then introduces Eve to his music student Cassie, and the three eventually form a band. The film also explores James’ attraction towards Eve as well as Eve’s own adventure into love and romance.
Although the plot’s film is weak at times and the songs do not always fully match with the scenes, the film itself is whimsical and beautiful, which is where much of the film’s merits can be found. There are times when the film feels a bit too stylized and try-hard. Eve’s character also sometimes comes across as a superficial re-incarnation of Angela from Godard’s “Une femme est une femme” in the musical numbers. Although this self-assured confidence and effortless whimsy seems slightly incongruent with a girl who is meant to be vulnerable and unstable, both mentally and emotionally, many of the musical sequences take place in the fantasies of its characters’ minds. This makes Eve’s depictions in these musical numbers legitimate, as she is actually a representation of the idealized Eve that both Eve has about herself and James dreams about.
As you can see, the film has it’s fair share of problems, which has gotten me thinking, why the hell am I recommending it to you? But weaknesses aside, the cinematography, wardrobe, and soundtrack was pretty ace. The on-screen chemistry between Browning, Alexander, and Murray also made this film fun to watch. If you are a fan of Wes Anderson, Anna Karina, the 60s, and are able to look past a flawed storyline and slow pacing in favor of a film’s atmosphere and cinematography, you are bound to enjoy this film as well. Because to be honest, there isn’t a damned thing wrong with watching and loving a film solely for it’s cinematographic merit.
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