HOW TO BE
UK, 2008, 85 minutes, Colour.
Robert Pattinson, Rebecca Pidgeon, Paul Jones, Jeremy Hardy, Michael Irving, Mike Pearce, Johnny White, Alisa Arnah.
Directed by Oliver Irving.
How to Be is a film by young people for young people.
It is a star vehicle for Robert Pattinson before he became a star, after his two Harry Potter films and before his worldwide success in the Twilight series. Despite portraying a young man with depression, he is a strong presence in this film, shabby in his dress and look, his style> He comes from a wealthy background, adopted by the wealthy business parents who have given him very little attention, let alone love.
This is Art’s story, sharing a flat with his friend, Ronnie, who tends to lecture him, and friends with Nicky who drifts in and out of his life in a rather carefree manner. His girlfriend breaks up with him.
After reading a book to say that the fault is not ours, he contacts the author, a Canadian self-help Guru and invites him to London – the Guru himself is an eccentric character, needing some therapy for himself and his memories of his family and growing up. What follows are a number of episodes where the Guru tries to help Art to get in touch with himself, what he likes, including a visit to a house where he grew up, and what he wants out of life.
Art is in the process of composing songs, playing them in clubs – and the final sign of some success is his composition about himself and his life which he plays to a more appreciative audience than usual, an audience which is listening.
1. The title, expectations? The existential questions, at suburban level, for young adults with depression, self-help books?
2. Robert Pattinson as the lead, after Harry Potter, before Twilight?
3. The London setting, homes, flats, supermarkets, clubs and gigs…? The musical score, the range of songs?
4. Robert Pattinson as Art? His age, appearance, inherent clothes? Depression? Adopted? His comments about his parents, bringing him up, their distance from him, their being busy, not showing interest in him? His reliance on his friends, Ronnie and his lecturing, Nicky and his offhand attitudes, comments, music? His reliance on them, their discussions?
5. The characters of Ronnie and Nicky? Ronnie, the flat, Art staying with him, nitrous inhalations? Drinking? Nicky and his turning up, manner, comments? Their support?
6. Art, Jessica, wanting to have a discussion with her, her breaking up with him, her not understanding him, his pursuit of her, her rejection?
7. Art, his music, composing songs, playing them, works in progress, the few listeners, the encouragement of his friends, his continuing writing, the autobiographical song at the end – and his appreciation of people listening?
8. His parents, his father continually going out and not able to talk? His mother, her style, her career, cold in her manner, discussions with Art, not able to comprehend what he was saying, her being insulted by him? Any future relationship with them? The reaction to the visiting Guru, in the house, the discussions, Art coming into the bed and the personal space, their not comprehending, wanting to get rid of the Guru?
9. Art, reading the book, the title and the fault in not being ours…? His contacting the Guru, Canada, the letter, not being picked up, but staying in the house? The personality of the Guru? His story, flashbacks, treatment by his parents, the reason for his writing the book, his career? Arrival, settling into the house, becoming part of the family, the discussions with Art, getting him to break through, taking Art to the house where he grew up, the mother and the son, Art in the bedroom and on the bed? In bed with his parents? The Guru observing? his meeting Ronnie and Nicky? The overall effect on Art?
10. Art, really trying to understand his life, its meaning, to find something he was happy with, coming out of his depression? The final song and his being appreciated?
