YOUNG ONES
US, 2014, 97 minutes, Colour.
Michael Shannon, Nicholas Hoult, Elle Fanning, Kodi Smit- Mc Phee.
Directed by Jake Paltrow.
Young Ones is a rather generic title which does not indicate at all what this film is about by or how it is communicated.
There is a scarcity of water in parts of the United States, the location where this story is set, making it look something like a post-apocalyptic story. But, there is water available and pipes are being built to bring it to the more than drought-stricken areas. In the cities, life seems to be continuing as normal and several times we see commercial planes flying overhead. People can listen to the radio and there are commercials for buying used cars…
Out in the wasteland, people try to survive, and one man with his teenage son, Ernest and Jerome, Michael Shannon and Kodi Smit Mc Phee, have a contract to bring supplies to the pipe installation workers, bringing the goods by donkey. Ernest has faith that the land can still be fruitful when water comes and tries to persuade the workers to divert some of the pipes to this area.
When the donkey is accidentally wounded by Jerome and the father has to shoot it, they go to an auction where artificial carriers, robotlike machines, are being auctioned. The son of the auctioneer, Fleming, Nicholas Hoult, is eager to buy the machine but is outbid. He is also having an affair with Ernest’s daughter, Mary, Elle Fanning.
Fleming is a resentful young man against Ernest and also ambitious and is the catalyst for some disasters and deaths. The water is diverted and the land renewed, crops growing again, and Jerome and Mary settling down with Fleming. However, something of Fleming’s treachery is discovered by Jerome and the film moved towards a violent vendetta.
The structure of the film is in three chapters, one focusing on Ernest, the next on Fleming, the last on Jerome.
The film is interestingly written and performed and it keeps audience interest. Direction is by Jake Paltrow, whose work has mainly been with television series but also directed the Good Night and a documentary about Brian De Palma.
1. Science-fiction story told in a “normal” world situation? The touch of the apocalyptic with the lack of water? Yet the possibilities of finding more water and prospering? The difficulties of people on the outskirts of the city, in the desert? Watching the planes fly overhead, listening to the radio broadcasts, the commercials for used cars?
2. The credibility of the plot, the people on the outskirts, the absence of water, the rerouting of pipes, the value of the land, ownership, banks, trading and bringing goods to workers in the desert?
3. The location photography, South African locations, the desert, the mountains, the homes, the pipelines, the wells? The musical score?
4. The telling of the story, in chapters, the particular focus of each chapter? The strong cast – and Michael Shannon disappearing after the first chapter?
5. The opening, the setting of the desert, the family, the home, father and son and their working together, the donkey, transporting the supplies, the reaction of the workers? The first chapter focusing on Ernest? His age, his drinking, reform? The effect on his wife, violence, her being in the institution, his visits, her being connected to the wires? His relationship with Jerome, wanting him to call him dad? Yet bonding with him, spending time with him, proud of him? The contrast with his attitude towards Mary, harsh, restrictive?
6. His work, with the men, the deals, the alcohol? The donkey, Jerome and the death of the donkey? Ernest and his tolerance? Their going to the auction, outbidding Fleming? Getting the machine? Using it for transporting? Fleming and his attitude?
7. Ernest, the clash with Fleming, buying the machine, Fleming being vindictive? Trying to persuade the men about the pipeline? The fight, the bashing, the knife? Fleming and his dealing with Ernest, argument, throwing the stone, the blood and the concussion, dragging him, Ernest’s death?
8. Jerome, his age, devoted to his father, his friendship with Fleming? The aftermath of his father’s death, Fleming and his relationship with Mary? Her pregnancy?
9. Mary, her character, household chores and washing with sand, anger with her father, relationship with Fleming, pregnant, wanting the money, perhaps an abortion? Are plans to leave with Fleming? her father’s death and her grief? The funeral? Brother and sister visiting their mother in hospital?
10. Fleming, only son, his father and the deals? The other old men and their surviving?
11. The rerouting of the pipes, Fleming and his ownership of the land, the water, the land being fruitful, Jerome and his seeing the initial shoot, the collage of further shoots, the crops growing, fruitfulness?
12. Seeming peace, Mary and her pregnancy, Jerome and his work, Fleming and prosperity?
13. Second chapter and the focus on Fleming and his achievement? The third chapter and the focus on Jerome and his new awareness?
14. Fleming, with Robbie and the girl, Ernest and is strict instructions to Robbie, Robbie wanting to get money and the prospect of selling the child? The discovery that the child was a doll? Fleming, his anger, killing Robbie? The pretense that he was still alive?
15. Jerome finding the machine, the filming, his seeing the wounding of his father and his death? Biding his time with Fleming? Telling him he had messages from Robbie?
16. The final confrontation, Fleming in the hole, Jerome and the gradual revelation of the truth, watching Fleming, Fleming and his protests, his schemes? The irony that Ernest was in debt to the bank and his father telling Fleming that the bank would take over the land – and Fleming’s devices to do business in getting the money, having the knife from the workers on
the pipe rerouting?
17. Fleming, his presuming that Jerome would not kill him, his death?
18. Mary, worried about Fleming not returning, the brother and sister sitting at the table, Jerome not telling her the truth – and moving into the future?
