ENDINGS, BEGINNINGS
US, 2019, 110 minutes, Colour.
Shailene Woodley, Jamie Dornan, Sebastien Stan, Matthew Gray Gubler, Lindsay Sloane, Wendy Malick, Kyra Sedgwick.
Directed by Drake Doremus.
Every audience can identify with this title, many endings in our lives, many beginnings. However, the reference here is particularly to young adults, especially those in their late 20s, early 30s, the age of the main protagonists.
This is a film by Drake Doremus who has made a succession of films exploring relationships between younger people.
The focus is on Daphne, played by Shailene Woodley, who built a strong reputation for performance during her 20s, including The Descendants, the Insurgent series, Big Little Lies. She is involved in a breakup with her longtime boyfriend, decides to take something of a sabbatical, moves in with her half-sister, tries to get some jobs, wants to sort herself out.
Daphne reflects on her past, her beginnings, the absence of her father, her mother caring for her but many relationships with men. By contrast, her half-sister is pregnant, relates well with her husband – although Daphne sees them often quarrelling. The issue is whether she will drift or, as the title indicates, will find some beginnings.
The key to her search is, of course, in relationships. She has flashbacks to her past boyfriend. She has given up drinking. (Although, it is extraordinary how many cigarettes she and the cast smoke during the film – with some comment by her on what the Surgeon General might think.)
At a party, she encounters two men, Jack (Jamie Dornan keeping his Irish accent) and Frank (Sebastien Stan). Interestingly, the two could pass for brothers, same height, general appearance and build, both bearded. She is attracted to Jack, a serious-minded writer with prospects for advancement, time in Italy, researcher. The audience might be more puzzled by her attraction to Frank, very outgoing, not particularly inhibited or scrupulous in his behaviour.
The audience watches Daphne letting herself go in a sexual relationship with Frank. She is more controlled, even more tender, in her sexual relationship with Jack. In the meantime, she is getting advice from her half-sister, from friends who work in the art world where she did, from her mother.
But, for a young woman entering her 30s, the principal beginning is pregnancy, the desire to have a child, but with the problem to be solved about communicating to both Jack and Frank about the pregnancy as well as the paternity issues.
Since the title begins with endings and ends with beginnings, the screenplay, of course, will leave the audience standing with Daphne, contemplating this particular beginning for a life and what she will do.
1. The title? The breakup of a relationship? The possibilities for new beginning? The end of the 20s? The prospect of the 30s?
2. The urban setting? Homes, apartments, workplaces? The art world? Socials, clubs? The world of free spirits? The world of the writer? The musical score?
3. A film for those in their late 20s, early 30s? Too much for younger audiences? Older audiences looking back, critical of behaviour and decision-making? Hopes?
4. Daphne, her comments on her life, her upbringing, absent father, her mother and men, the influence on her life? Her stepsister, her husband, the daughter, the parties and celebrations, seeing them quarrel, living with them? Her search for work, job interviews, promoting herself? The flashbacks and the memories of her relationship with Adrian? The vagueness of his character, some of the vagueness of her memories? Her deciding to take a sabbatical, prospects, anticipated changes on not?
5. Daphne, the amount of smoking (and the comments about the Surgeon General), not drinking, falling off the wagon? Reticent? Relationships? The encounter with Jack, with Frank? Responding to Frank and his free spirit, sexual encounters? Jack, more reserved, an author, publication, scholarships, more serious? The more serious sexual relationship? Responding to both men? Discovering her pregnancy? Telling Jack, his sympathy but bewildered response? Frank discovering her pregnant, the conversation with her, his comments about being a father?
6. The contrast between the two men, similarities and look, beards? Frank and his behaviour, conversation, sexual encounters? His new girlfriend? Jack, more serious, the book, travel, lectures, the prospect of Rome? His response to Daphne’s pregnancy?
7. Daphne’s friends, the influence of her mother and conversation with her, with her artist friend, her sister, other friends?
8. The buildup to no finale, Daphne, the experience of the sabbatical, discovering herself, strengths and weaknesses, the pregnancy and looking forward to her daughter, the reaction of the two men, her being by herself, but…?
