THE BROWN BUNNY
US, 2003, 122 minutes, Colour.
Vincent Gallo, Chloe Sevigny, Cheryl Tiegh.
Directed by Vincent Gallo.
Is Vincent Gallo, actor and director of Buffalo 66, just self-confident or extremely self-indulgent? This is a two hour home movie that presumes its audience wants to watch Gallo (who wrote, produced, acted as director of photography and as one of the camera operators as well as starring) in his drive across America. We see him cleaning his teeth, putting on his clothes and every other domestic activity at more length than one would watch in real life. We see his ear, his nose, his eye in lengthy close-ups. And then we see the road, during the day, night, through rain, through a specked windscreen (and then he cleans his van). Personal encounters are minimum, mainly some girls with the names of flowers. He is on a quest to find his lost love, Daisy.
With so much focus on Gallo, one wonders whether he will include a scene of his sexual activity. We are right to wonder because he does, including some close-ups which are more at home in a pornographic film. It would be interesting to hear Chloe Sevigny's take on her performance and the whole film (she appears as Daisy) which seems not only self-referential to Gallo and a wallow in his character's life and misfortunes but seems strongly misogynistic. Gallo's character, the plot of his life and the cinematic treatment, which is more akin to episodes of Big Brother and the like, though not so visually slick, mean that it is only ardent fans who will watch or care.
1. The role of Gallo in the making of the film, starring, producing, directing, director of photography, camera operator and editor?
2. The self-indulgence of the director, self-confidence, self-promotion? Expecting the audience to share the interest in the minute details of his journey across America?
3. The tradition of the road movies, of Easy Rider - but this film lacking a depth of plot, social awareness? Comparatively trite? Lacking in social concern?
4. The camera work and style, realism and minimalism? The musical score - the range of songs? Audiences needing patience to watch the film?
5. The American road, through the windscreen, by day, by night, long takes, long stretches? The ordinariness of the American landscapes? The different states of the east and midwest? Utah and the cycle track? California?
6. Gallo as a personality, appearance, the close-ups of him driving, his ears, eyes, nose? Seeing himself as attractive? The initial encounter with Violet, the talk, the sweet talk, the kiss, proposing that she go away with him, her having to make a decision, her decision to go? Going to pack and his driving off? The encounter with Lily, seeing her sitting at the table, the tender and passionate kiss, leaving her? Seeing Rose amongst the prostitutes in the city, driving around the block, picking her up, having a meal, letting her out? His attitude towards women? Sexuality?
7. The visit to Daisy's mother, the revelation about the past, neighbours, going to California? Her not remembering?
8. The rabbit sequences, the brown bunny and its being Daisy's pet, her leaving it at home? His going to the pet shop, the discussion about how long rabbits live? The rabbit seen at the end of the film?
9. The biking theme, the long going around the course - and his not winning? In Utah and his riding up the course and back? In California, getting the bike fixed? His devotion to his van, driving, cleaning it - and finally crashing in it?
10. Daisy, the memories, the riding of the bike with the sexual overtones? His leaving the message, waiting for her? Her coming, taking the drugs? The sexual encounter, the effect on her, her love for him?
11. The story of what had happened, the flashbacks to the party, the drugs, her being pregnant, losing the child? His complete mystification as to how this could have happened? Unforgiving? Her being a ghost?
12. The pornographic scene? In the latter part of the film? What it revealed about Gallo's exhibitionism? Chloe Sevigny and her acting with Gallo? The tone that it gave the film?
13. The film was not well received, Vincent Gallo apologised to people at Cannes for his subjective approach? The film as pushing limits? Or merely self-indulgence?
