HAPPIEST SEASON
US, 2020, 102 minutes, Colour.
Kristin Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Mary Steenburgen, Victor Garber, Alison Brie, Mary Holland, Daniel Leay, Burl Moseley, Aubrey Plaza, Jake Mc Dorman, Ana Gasteyer.
Directed by Clea Du Vall.
In so many films, Christmas is the happiest season. And, in so many films, it is not always the happiest. It is one of the times, like Thanksgiving, when families gather together to enjoy one another’s company, to have meals, to share the spirit of the season, but also when tensions arise, harsh truths are told or truths concealed and revealed.
This is one of those family gatherings at Christmas – and quite some revelations.
This is a personal drama of two women in a relationship. Mackenzie Davis plays Harper, a writer. She is in a relationship with Abby, played quite persuasively by Kristin Stewart. They have their own lives, are open about their love for each other. And, as so often in the movies, they have a gay friend, John. He is played very entertainingly by Dan Levy (who created the Canadian award-winning television comedy series, Schitts Creek). Harper persuades Abby to travel home with her to meet her family (John will stay at home to look after the pets that Abby cares for).
On the way home, Harper confesses that she has not come out to her parents – but will do so after Christmas. Abby reluctantly agrees. When they arrive, they are welcomed by Harper’s exuberant mother, Mary Steenburgen, and the rather proper father, Victor Garber, a town councillor who is campaigning to be mayor and his using Christmas engagements, dinners and parties, to exemplify his credentials. The older daughter, Sloane (Alison Brie) arrives with her husband and twin children. And, there is the daughter who has stayed at home, always cheerfully erupting into the conversation, probably autistic, Jane (played by Mary Holland to co-wrote the screenplay with director, Clea Du Vall).
As anticipated, there will be quite some difficulties in concealment, and the parents inviting Harpers College boyfriend to dinner, disconcerting Abby. There is the room situation and Abby put upon by Sloane’s twins, shopping, slipping an item into her bag and her being arrested. While the parents do their best, it is clear that they are finding Abby somewhat of an embarrassment. Abby, in the meantime, encounters Harper’s friend from school days (Aubrey Plaza), now a doctor at Johns Hopkins, but who knows the secret.
John then turns up to help with the situation, providing enjoyable touches of camp comedy. Abby, on the other hand, is deadly serious, dismayed at Harper’s overt denials.
The buildup is to one of those American family squabbles, or more than squabbles, where secrets come out, mother coping better than father who comes to realise how he has treated his daughters, favouring Harper for her intelligence and expertise, not acknowledging Sloane, and treating Jane in such offhand ways.
So, acceptance, resolution, happy photos, which makes the Christmas season happier than might have been expected.
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1. The title? The Christmas story? Atmosphere of the season, family gatherings, homes and trees, decorations? The musical score, the range of songs, secular, the religious overtones?
2. The conventions of the film is about family reunions at celebration times? Happy gatherings, clashes, relationships, revelations?
3. The gay theme? The relationship, those who are out, those in the closet? Revelation to families? Embarrassment? Threat to reputations? The consequences of being in the closet? Family, final acceptance?
4. Abby and Harper, the relationship, love, sharing the apartment? Abby and her work? Harper and her writing?
5. The Christmas invitation, Harper persuading Abby to go, Harper driving, the revelation that she had not been honest, had not told her parents about her orientation? Abby’s reaction, the plan for the revelation after Christmas?
6. Harper’s family, her father, on the town Council, campaigning for mayor, his contacts, socials, his reputation? Tipper, exuberant, taking control? The presence of Jane, the touch of the autistic, cheerful, intruding, her parents’ treatment of her? The room and accommodation? Abby settling in? Observing?
7. Sloane and her husband, the antipathy with Harper, her father doting on Harper and relying on her skills for PR? Sloane, relationship with her husband, the later revelation of the separation, the divorce, her husband in the closet with the campaigner? The twins, hostility towards Abby because of the room, Abby taking them shopping, the putting the bracelet in her bag, accused of shoplifting?
8. The socials, the political links, campaigns? The dinner, Tipper inviting Connor, the past relationship, his embarrassment? His presence of the other functions, the attraction towards Harper? Her playing along?
9. The hostess of the party, Harriet and her political connections, vetting the candidates?
10. The reaction to Abby’s arrest in the shop? Not going to the functions? The encounter with Riley, knowing something of the past, the discussions with Riley, Frank, going to the gay club, the female impersonators, singing? The discussion about the situation? Harper’s behaviour towards Riley in the past, exposing Riley and her orientation? Yet her skills, Dr, everybody asking for diagnoses? Harper seeing the two out the window, wary?
11. The white elephant party, the range of gifts, Jane and her painting, Harry winning it and puzzled?
12. The clashes between Sloane and Harper, Sloane seeing Harper and Debbie together? The discovery of Erich and his friend in the closet? The fight breaking out, coming into the room, disrupting the party, people leaving? Sloane outing Harper? Harper’s denial, Abby’s reaction, wanting to leave?
13. John, his friendship, looking after the pets, destroying the fish and buying another? The phone calls, his support? The comedy and his camp style? His coming to Abby support, in the house, friendship with Jane? Advice to Abby?
14. Ted, the revelations, the consequences for his campaign? Tipper talking to him, revealing some home truths – and her wanting to do karate? Tipper and her acceptance?
15. Abby, leaving, with John, Harper tracking her down – as John did keep track on everyone?
16. The reconciliation? Acceptance? Sloane and her situation, the transit twins apologising for what they did? The parents acknowledging that they had given up on Jane?
17. The importance of photos, tipper and instant, campaigns? Family groups? Not being satisfied? The next group of photos, Abby invited to be in the photos?
18. The year later, and a happy ending?
