MAGIC, MAGIC
Chile, 2012, 80 minutes, Colour.
Juno Temple, Augustin Silva, Emily Browning, Michael Cera.
Directed by Sebastien Silva.
Magic, Magic is a film by Chilean director Sebastien Silva who directed the atmospheric 2009 film, The Maid. Atmosphere is an important word for this director, who concentrates very much on atmosphere surrounding his characters.
In this case, the characters are generally a group of young adults, with some older local Chileans added in. The central character is Alicia, played by the British Juno Temple, a young woman who has not travelled outside the United States but has come with her cousin, Sarah (Emily Browning) and her Chilean friends. They are on holidays in the countryside, travelling to an island off the Chilean coast.
All seems normal enough except that Alicia is a nervous traveller, compounded by the fact that Sarah is called back to the United States to sit for an exam. This disconcerts Alicia but she is persuaded not to return home and to travel with the group to the island.
Augustin (Augustin Silva) is Sarah’s boyfriend and is considerate towards Alicia. His older sister (Catalina Sandino Moreno) is rather aloof and unwelcoming. The other character is a friend of Augustin, an American from a diplomatic or family, Brink (Michael Cera). He is a rather obnoxious character, pranks and jokes, with a sadistic touch.
However, the point of the film is Alicia’s mental deterioration on the island. Away from home and what she is used to, she feels alienated from the group, welcoming Sarah back from the United States, but unable to sleep, on tenterhooks, wandering away from the group. One major episode, long in this short-running film, is the challenge to Alicia to jump from a cliff, continually urged by the others, focusing on her delay and fear. Later, when things come to a head, the night, the darkness, strange experiences with animals, local traditional rituals, Alicia goes to the cliff again to jump.
The film stops rather than bringing the drama to a conclusion. It is over to the audience to speculate on Alicia’s future, what will happen to her in the short term with the others on the island, what will happen to her long-term.
Since the characters are not particularly engaging, some audiences will find it difficult to identify with them or warm to them. Rather, it is a film of atmosphere and observing Alicia and her mental collapse.
1. The divided response to this film, some seeing it as a masterpiece, other seeing it as weird and boring?
2. A Chilean film, the Chilean director and writers? In English and Spanish? The American cast? The Chilean caste? A satisfying blend of influence from different cultures?
3. The title, Alicia’s experience, nightmares, rituals, paranoia?
4. The Chilean setting, the opening with the landscapes and the sea? The island? The opening in the city, travelling through the Chilean countryside, the boat, the island?
5. Alicia, her relationship with Sarah, not travelling outside the United States, coming to Chile, her apprehension? The gradual revelation of her nerves and mental state? Sarah being called back to America for an exam? The effect of her absence? Alicia wanting to go home? Being persuaded to continue? The trip, the car, the anxieties, the conversations? The boat to the island?
6. Alicia, her room, her relationship with the other characters, brink and his jokes and sadistic touches? Augustin and his welcome? Barbara, her aloofness and criticism?
7. The holiday, the effect on Alicia, by herself, with the group, meeting Bernardo, meeting Melda? Their help, especially for Alicia’s collapse? The local culture?
8. Alicia, not being able to sleep, the food, and nightmares, the animals, putting the dog out on the road, the animals on the island?
9. Sarah, agreeable, her return? A salutary effect on Alicia?
10. The character of Brink, the diplomatic family, studying in South America, American, his practical jokes, offhand remarks, Alicia and the difficulties in dealing with him? The character of Barbara, older, working, sympathetic and unsympathetic? Augustin and his being more sympathetic?
11. Alicia, withdrawing into herself, imaginings, reactions to the others, going off by herself? The importance of the sequence on the cliff? So much time given to it, the others urging her to jump, accounting, her remaining at the top? The effect on her, embarrassment, seeming weakness?
12. Returning to the cliff, her jump, the reaction of the others, trying to get her, bring her out of the water? The attempts to revive Alicia?
13. The film stopping, leaving it to the audience to speculate about what would happen?
