Palindromes — Palindromes( Blu Ray)
Palindromes was the 5th feature from Todd Solondz, America's auteur of uncomfortable and taboo-breaking drama/cringe-inducing dark comedy. The early 2000s picture focuses on Aviva, a middle-class thirteen-year-old girl who is obsessed with having a baby. The film is presented in a decidedly off-kilter fairy tale manner, with the lead character shifting between eight different actors over the picture's length, all adding to the awkwardness and fist-biting edginess of the whole thing. Here from Radiance Films is a new release of the film, coming as either a dual UHD/Blu-ray format release or a stand-alone Blu-ray; I’m reviewing the latter of these. Both versions take in a 4k restoration, a few new interviews, a new video essay, and a forty-page inlay booklet.
Palindromes was released in the year 2004, and was filmed between New York and Indiana, shifting from a suburban home set affair, to a skewed road movie. Since the early 80s,Todd Solondz has had thirteen credits to his name, taking in eight features and five shorts. His first features went from Fear, Anxiety & Depression (1989), a satirical look at NYC's underground art scene, onto the wonderfully cringeworthy coming-of-age drama Welcome To The Dollshouse(1995)- which Radiance also reissued a few years back. His most recent film was the very dark satire Wiener-Dog (2016).
When we first meet Aviva, she is played by an around ten-year-old African American child- her blond-haired mother Joyce( Ellen Barkin) is tucking her into bed, and she is talking about how much so wants to have many babies. As go through the film- she is played six other actresses and one actor, going from a skinny red haired girl, a more chubby brunette teen, and most bizarrely a clearly in her late 20’s/ early 30’s larger black American women- each are still meant to be the same thirteen year old girl.
Over the film's length, our lead(s) go from having awkward sex with a geeky family friend, getting pregnant, then launching on an opportune road trip, where she meets a tubby/ fearful lorry driver, and a religious couple who foster a selection of children with different special needs. Oh, and popping up ever so often- we have members of the Wiener family who appeared in Todd Solondz’s second film Welcome To The Dollshouse- so it’s a very vague sequel too.
The encounters/drama move between the slightly awkward, to real butt clenching/ very nervous laugh bound. Themes/ tangents include teen pregnancy, paedophilia, religious folk, controlling parents, and trying to be a ‘normal’ middle-class suburbanite.
Throughout the film, we get a series of pink to blue title cards with frilly frames, baby hand prints, baby botties, and different names- these largely appear as we shift from one actor to the next.
The acting from both the different ‘ Aviva’, and the cast in general is pitch perfect, as each knows how to balance social awkwardness, low-key humour, and moments of real emotion. Solondz’s uses muzak, camp pop, and similar sonic fare to great effect, really adding to the whole thing.
Like the work of any distinctive auteur’s you most certainly know when you're watching a Solondz film. And with Palindromes, it’s dripping out of its irritated/ slightly unwell pores- like murky-looking sweat. It is most certainly not a film for the easily offended, in any way prudish, or PC focused. But if, like me, you can revel in the awkward, cringe-inducing, and taboo-breaking, you’ll find much to engage with in Palindromes.
The new 4k scan looks great, really bringing out both the fairy tale qualities and more atmospheric elements of the film. Extras-wise, on the disc we get three new things- first is a zoom interview between director Todd Solondz by critic Hannah Strong (26.17). He goes from discussing why two of his films regard teen girls, and what appeals to him about this setting. He talks about the reasoning for using eight different actors, and how it was inspired by the way TV series of the 80s sometimes replaced actors. He talks about how he likes to play with the form of cinema with his films, yet his scripts themselves are easy to read/ understand. He talks about both Alice in Wonderland and The Sound of Music being an influence on the religious fostering parent element of the film.
Next is an audio-only interview with actor Alexander Brickel, who played the ten-year-old Jewish boy with a lung condition in the film(14.41). And Todd Solondz and His Cinema of Cruelty( 11.58) a visual essay from critic Lillian Crawford, discussing the film at hand & Solondz's work in general. All three extras are most worthy, and most certainly worth a play
The release is finished off with a forty-page booklet. This takes in the full cast list, director's statement & director's notes. A new six and a half page article about the film by Bence Bardos entitled ‘Watching Yourself Watching Palindromes’. Two 2005 interviews with Jeff Bound( of Shudder To Think), who scored the film, and Solondz. As well as a good selection of colour stills from the picture.
It certainly is excellent to see Palindromes getting this classy Radiance release, as there really is no one quite like Solondz in cinema, and this/ all of his films, are wonderful, awkward-yet oddly engaging affairs. This new release presents us with a new 4k scan, and a great selection of extras.