BREATHE IN
US, 2013, 98 minutes, Colour.
Guy Pearce, Felicity Jones, Amy Ryan, Mackenzie Davis, Matthew Daddario.
Directed by Drake Doremus.
Breathe in was directed by Drake Doremus who made Like Crazy, which also starred Felicity Jones. He later made Equal is with guy Pearce.
The story is familiar. A married couple, for 17 years and with the daughter, experienced tension in the marriage. Keith, guy Pearce, is a prostrate teacher who wants to perform in concerts and is seen playing, rehearsing, auditioning. He wants to give up teaching, sell the family house and move to the city. In contrast, his wife, Megan, Amy Ryan, is satisfied with that life and loves the house being in the countryside with its water views. Lauren, Mackenzie Davis, is a champion swimmer, is turning 18, gives up her room for the visiting English student, Sophie, played by Felicity Jones.
Keith is attracted to Sophie, she to him. This is a slow burning relationship, brought to a head by her skill in playing the piano and Keith’s amazement, their being together swimming event and caught in the downpour and returning home together. There is a tender scene by reservoir – witnessed by Lauren. This leads to a crisis, Keith performing on a concert, planning to leave with Sophie. However, Lauren confronts Sophie and, frantic, drives her car recklessly and is involved in an accident.
The key moment is Megan texting Keith about Lauren being in hospital – and Keith makes the decision for his family. The opening sequence in the final sequence consist of family photos.
1. The title? Romance? Age difference? Sophie and her explanation to Keith about how to be calm and breathe in?
2. An American story, universal? Winchester, New York State? Home, school, music room, swimming events, orchestra and concerts? The woods and address of war? The musical score? Classics and background?
3. The American family, 17 years married, love, tensions, the daughter? Lauren and her swimming? The invitation for Sophie, to stay with the family, coming from the UK? The background of teaching, music, performance, regrets? Megan and her loving the house, not wanting to move?
4. Keith, his age, restless, his ambitions, past photos and memories, relationship with Meagan, with a Lauren? The house, his wanting to leave teaching, to sell the house? Performance, rehearsals? Teaching, not wanting to teach, the students in class, encouraging them Western Mark Sophie’s arrival, his attraction to her, her playing the piano in class? The outing, the swimming, touching? The rain, returning home, at the piano, disturbed? Her coming to the class, at the reservoir, the tenderness between the two? At home, the performance, seeing Lauren at school, the performance and planning to leave? The phone, the news about Lauren, the hospital? His return?
5. Sophie, from the UK, student, her age, background, family? Lauren giving up her room? Welcomed into the family, not wanting to go to the music class, Keith inviting her to play Chopin, the applause? Her attraction towards Keith? Friendship with Lauren? The outing, with Aaron, his coming onto her, her resistance? Lauren is wrong interpretation? At the swimming, getting wet, at the piano with Keith? Her conceiving the attraction? Explaining breathing into him? The reservoir, tender, touch, kiss? The effect on her? Lauren seeing her? Attacked by Lauren, saying she was going camping, preparing to leave, waiting for Keith, the phone call?
6. Meagan, the years of marriage, practical woman, loving the house? Her wanting to stay? The discussion about selling the house, no discussion? The buildup to the clash? The truth, her smashing the objects? At the hospital? The final photo of the family?
7. Lauren, pleasant, giving up her room, swimming, with Sophie, the bond with her parents, her relationship with Aaron, the sexual relationship? The party for turning 18, drinking, jealous? Her scratching Aaron’s car? In the woods, seeing her father and Sophie? The bedroom confrontation, slapping Sophie? At school, reassuring her father, her frantic driving, the hospital?
8. The background of the school, the students, Keith and his music friends?
9. The crisis? Commonplace – yet insight? And the final photo of the family?
