GOLDEN EXITS
US, 2017, 92 minutes, Colour.
Emily Browning, Adam Horowitz, Mary- Louise Parker, Chloe Sevigny, Jason Schwartzman, Analeigh Tipton, Lily Rabe, Craig Butta.
Directed by Alex Ross Perry.
This is a film for audiences who enjoyed New York characters and their interactions. In some ways it is a miniature kind of film, and a great deal of dialogue.
The focus is a young Australian, Naomi, played by Emily Browning, who is visiting New York, as an interview for a job helping an archivist, gets the job, meets the arc of his family, his wife and his sister in law), makes contact with the son of a friend of her mother and meets up with him.
The archivist is played by Adam Horowitz (from the Beastie Boys, son of Israel Horowitz). His wife is played by Chloe Sevigny. His rather independent-minded sister-in-law is played by Mary-Louise? Parker. She has a friend, Sam, played by Lily Ray. The son of her mother’s friend is Jason Schwartzman who is married to Annalee Tipton.
Naomi does her work, enjoys meeting the archivist’s family, as well as the friend. The action takes place over only two months, with various dates in April and May coming up on screen. Naomi does her work. The archivist is intrigued by her but she puts him off. She discusses his relationship with his wife with the friend who is also attracted to her.
She leaves to go home to study in Sydney, asking a reference from the archivist, leaving the others to sort out the relationships.
1. Title? Rivals? Leaving? The significance of golden?
2. A New York City film, the locations, streets, homes, offices, restaurants? The musical score?
3. The intersection of families? Love, tensions, breakups? Crises?
4. Naomi, her Australian background, her age, arriving in New York City, her hopes? Meeting Nick, Alyssa? The interview for the job? Arranging archives? Her making a good impression? Her accommodation and apartment? The going to work, her skills? Nick taking her to lunch? Lunch and her salary? The meeting with Gwen, the discussions, Gwen’s explanations, challenges? Meeting Buddy, his mother her mother’s friend? Sense of duty? The conversations?
5. The range of dates, from April to June? Naomi’s experience in the United States?
6. Nick, his age, background, the marriage to Alyssa, Alyssa and her psychology work, clients? The tensions, suspicions about Nick? Nick, going to the birthday party, the drinks, the camaraderie? Meeting Naomi, his approach, her resistance? The perfume, Alyssa smelling it, suspicions?
7. The meeting with Buddy, the conversations, the attraction? Her inquiring about Jess?
8. Buddy and Jess? Their sound recording business, their working together, the marriage? Jess and her friends? Buddy and his friends? Clients and interviews? The final conversation together?
9. Gwen, independent spirit, friendship with Sam? Sam and her personality, the conversations? The meetings with Naomi? The parting from Gwen?
10. Naomi, finishing her time in New York, asking for a recommendation by Nick, his saying her work was satisfactory? Her going to study in Sydney?
11. Nick and Alyssa talking together? Reconciliation? Hope for the future?
