BLUE JAY

US, 2016, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Mark Duplass, Sarah Paulson, Clu Gulager.
Directed by Alex Lehman.

Blue Jay is a small drama focusing on two people who had a relationship in the past and meet, unexpectedly, again and renew their acquaintance.

The film was directed by cinematographer Alex Lehman who also worked with the Duplass brothers for the comedy-drama about terminal illness, Paddleton. Lehman has also directed documentaries about Asperges.

Although Clu Gulager appears in a cameo role, this is very much a two-hander film, photographed in black-and-white, with Jim, Mark Duplass, who wrote the screenplay, returning home and Amanda, Sarah Paulson, coming back to visit family. They meet by accident in a supermarket. Only gradually does the audience discover that the two had a relationship in the past, there was a pregnancy, the possibility of abortion, Jim unable to face the reality. They have continued with their lives, still with some resentments, the possibility of coming back together after such a long time – but facing the reality depends on the consequences of time passing.

The film is worth seeing for the quality of the performances and the rapport between the two stars.

1. The impact of the film? The quality of black-and-white photography? The quality of the dialogue? Performances? The brief running time?

2. The California town, overview, supermarket, parking lots, cafes, apartments? Realistic? The power of the black-and-white photography? The musical score?

3. The title, the memories?

4. Small, independent film, the writing and performance by Mark Duplass? The Duplass brothers and their producing?

5. The two-hander, the performances, the chemistry between the two, the sense of intimacy?

6. The short running time, seeming as if it was played in real-time?

7. The setting, the supermarket, the encounter, moving to the car park, the street, the cafe, home?

8. The reasons for the two being in the town? Jim and the death of his mother, coming to pack up? Amanda coming to visit her pregnant sister? The coincidence of their meeting?

9. Audience response to the initial reaction, one seeming not to notice the other, talking, old friends, yet the distance between them? Casual chat? The parking lot, the cars? The decision to go for a coffee? Continuing conversation, memory surfacing from the past? Their knowing each other, the nature of the relationship? 20 years earlier?

10. The visit to Waynie, again the memories of the past, his place in their lives?

11. The growing frankness, going to the apartment? Growing sense of intimacy?

12. The revelation about the past, Jim talking about how young he was, inexperienced, fearful? Amanda, love, pregnancy? The issue of Jim and responsibility? Abortion? The effect on both? Amanda leaving the town? Jim staying, doing jobs around the country over the years?

13. The growing intimacy, the attempt to kiss, the break? Jim wanting to break through his past? Amanda and her still being trapped by her past?

14. The film ending, no quick or easy solution, speculation about the future?