BLUE LIGHT/ HERE AND NOW

US, 2018, 91 minutes, Colour.
Sarah Jessica Parker, Jacqueline Bissett, Simon Baker, Common, Renee Zellweger, Mary Beth Pell, Gus Birney.
Directed by Fabien Constant.

This is a brief film about death. The action takes place over 24 hours, the film beginning and ending with close-ups of the eyes of Sarah Jessica Parker who plays a singer, who is given her whole life to her career and separated from her husband and daughter.

She is diagnosed with a brain tumour and spends the next 24 hours reflecting on her life and memories, the decisions, the people in her life.

This means that the film consists of a lot of her walking through the New York streets, riding in a taxi (whose driver she continues to meet and then hires for several hours), the producer and band with whom she works, an encounter with an old friend having a birthday party, going to hear a singer at a club and then her singing, two visits to her husband and daughter.

Those who are moved by films about prospects of death may well respond to it – but the bloggers, not engaged, have judged the film as extremely boring for them.

The film has a good supporting cast including Jacqueline Bissett as her French mother, Simon Baker as her husband, Common as her manager, Renee Zellweger as the friend from the past.

1. A day in the life of a singer? Contemplating death?

2. A New York City story, the streets, rehearsal rooms, apartments, restaurants, taxis? Songs in the musical score?

3. The two titles and their tone?

4. Vivienne’s story? Her career as a singer? With her director and band? Her relationship with Nick, with Lucie? Lucie living with her father, Vivienne and her career?

5. The visit to the doctor, the x-rays, the diagnosis, the limited time, surgery or not? The immediate impact?

6. Late for rehearsals, her arrival, the personalities, her singing? The interview? The offhanded attitude of the interviewer?

7. Her walking the streets, contemplating, people passing by, bumping into people? The taxi, continually meeting him, her irritation with the music, getting out, encountering him again, the discussions, hiring him for the night?

8. Her relationship with the drummer, sexual, going to the performance, the singing?

9. The producer, friendship, his support?

10. Her relationship with her mother, demanding, French, visiting, interfering?

11. Walking the streets, the chance encounter with Tessa, their past friendship, Tessa and her birthday, marriage and three children, the impact on Vivienne?

12. Going home, the discussions with Nick, preparing the meal, Lucie arriving home? Her relationship with her daughter?

13. Visiting her again, the discussions with Nick, the gift of the dress to Lucie, leaving?

14. The audience sharing Vivienne’s experience, reflections, prospects? The film opening with the close-up on her eyes, the end of the film with the same close-up?