|
|
|
"Mysterious Skin" aims to move you |
|
|
|
Written by RYAN COX
|
|
Friday, 01 July 2005 |
Like all of Araki’s previous films (most notably “The Doom Generation” and “The Living End”), “Mysterious Skin” is a film that is likely to leave audiences divided, the difference this time being that rather than shocking audiences into disgust or out of their complacency, “Mysterious Skin” seems to want to genuinely move you. But a film dealing with pedophilia, and the adulthood fallout of child molestation shouldn’t be the easiest way to do it, which is all the more reason I take my hat off to Araki and applaud his bravery and sensitive hand. It’s a tough film to watch and it’s bleak, but it’s not without hope and an offer for redemption.
| | |
"Mysterious Skin"
|
 Entertainment
 Art
Directed by Gregg Araki
Written by Gregg Araki and Scott Heim
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brady Corbett, Elisabeth Shue, Michelle Trachtenberg, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jeffrey Licon, Bill Sage
|
| | |
Based on the novel by Scott Heim, “Mysterious Skin” follows the paths of 2 very different young men, both of whom were molested repeatedly by their little league coach (Sage) when they were 8 years old, and their complete opposite, but no less reactionary, despite their antithetical differences, ways of coping with the abuse. Without giving away too much of the story, one boy, Neil (Gordon-Levitt) becomes hyper-sexualized, a cold teenage hustler, while the other, Bryan (Corbet), retreats inward almost entirely, subconsciously blanking out his memory of that fateful summer, and seemingly as far from sexual as a teenage boy can possibly be.
But “Mysterious Skin” is not about sex. It’s about discovery, and about how so often childhood experiences are too intense, or too emotionally disturbing for children to process properly. The film makes clear from the beginning that Neil always knew he was gay. He has no father, and his mother (Shue) is often away and always dating a different man. This makes him easy prey for his handsome, seductive coach, and the young Neil learns to love the attention and flattery paid to him, even though he’s far too young to really grasp what’s happening. As he grows older, he acts out thoughtlessly, recklessly, with little to no regard for consequences, feelings, or motivations. It’s clear that he’s in pain, but what he interprets as a broken heart from being abandoned by his first true love, his coach, ends up being something else entirely. Brian, on the other hand, has no clue what has happened to him, and has convinced himself that he was abducted by aliens, and makes it his mission to figure it all out.
Eventually the boys again cross paths, offering an opportunity for disclosure and catharsis, but not without heart-rending journeys of heartbreak, confusion and rage. The performances by the two young boys are shockingly astute, subtle and believable, particularly Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who can convey an entire lifetime of pain and denial in a single flash of his dark eyes, while Brady Corbet portrays Bryan totally without sentimentality or pious self-pity. It’s a mature and important work that seeks to humanize pain and loss without being preachy or aggrandizing or even melodramatic.
A friend of mine that attended the movie with me said afterwards, “After seeing Todd Solondz try so hard to humanize the pedophiles (in his film “Happiness,” and later, to a lesser degree in “Storytelling”), it’s nice to see a movie humanize the kids that are the victims.” “Mysterious Skin” is a true work of art, and worthy of mountains of praise as a sensitive, honest and unexploitive portrayal of a generally taboo topic. It doesn’t offer any answers and it doesn’t have to. It offers a path. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
Other Recent Articles by RYAN COX:"9 Songs" an enigmaPreparing for your class reunion"High Tension" lives up to its name"Sin City" gives guilty warm feeling"Fever Pitch" a catch for Farrellys
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
