LITTLE JOE

UK, 2019, 104 minutes, Colour.

Emily Beecham, Ben Wishaw, Kerry Fox, Kit Connor, David Wilmot, Phenix Brossard, Sebastian Hulk, Lindsay Duncan.

Directed by Jessica Hausner.

Little Joe sounds like an endearing title. It aso seems like an innocuous title. But, again, it is congenial. One of the central characters of the film is a young boy, Joe, but he is not the Little Joe of the title!

This reviewer came to the film without any previous knowledge at all. The narrative opened in unexpected ways and continued in that vein. So, for audiences who prefer to watch a film without any preparation, it is best to stop reading this review here. The review presupposes that readers are interested in knowing something of what the film is about and how it handles its themes. So, spoiler alert.

This is a film about genetic engineering. However, the main task at hand, in a vast greenhouse with elaborate laboratories, all bright and white, nothing overtly sinister, is focused on the cultivation of special flowers – and each flower is a Little Joe. As the film progresses, with the ambitions of the scientists to produce a flower with aroma that will lead to pleasant feelings, it emerges that the genetic engineering actually does have human intentions, human targets.

Emily Beecham is one of the chief scientists, committed very much to the development of Little Joe, the audience seeing vast rows of the scarlet-coloured flower developing, blossoming, producing its pollen, its scent. She is Alice, separated from her husband (who suffers from allergies), mother of the young Joe (a credible Kit Connor,) mother and son bond, son begins to change in his attitude, wanting to spend time with his father, spending time with Selma, a young fellow-student, things at home seeming more and more on edge. Or is it Alice who is more and more on edge – especially as she goes to discuss her problems with therapist, Lindsay Duncan?

Most of the action takes place at home or on the greenhouse/laboratory site (though there is a relief excursion as Joe goes fishing with his father).

Generally, the scientists are cheery enough people, feeling under pressure to produce the flowers in time for a fair which will bring both prestige and sales. Alice’s co-worker, Chris (Ben Wishaw) is earnest, attracted to Alice, friendly with Joe. On the other hand, there is a veteran scientist, Bella (Kerry Fox), long working at the greenhouse, having time off for mental problems, disturbed when her dog seems to turn against her, then her voicing suspicions about the malevolent effects of the pollen of Little Joe…

Perhaps film analysts discussing Little Joe will be comparing it to the versions of The Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The story is in that vein – but more complicated because of the audience wondering whether we are looking objectively at the story and the characters or whether we have been transported into the wary and disturbed mind of Alice. A very significant clue is given in the last few seconds of the film and it would be a pity to miss this or overlook it.

Science. Science-fiction. Not what we might have expected.

1. The title? Alice’s son? The flowers and their cultivation? Their effect?
2. British film, locations, the factory, the interiors, the vast glasshouse, the laboratories? The canteen? The contrast with sequences at home? The interlude of fishing in the countryside?
3. The musical score, the use of beats, sound effects, staccato impact?
4. The film as Alice’s story, her age and experience, divorce from Ivan (and his being allergic), her care for Joe, beginning teenage, his home life, school life, friends? Her being busy at the laboratory? Her inventiveness, the role of Little Joe, its euphoric effect from its scent? The care for the plants in the greenhouse? Bringing one home for Joe? Her role in the laboratories, her colleagues, the authorities, her working with Chris, the interactions with Bella?
5. The development of the flowers, the camera continually looking at them, the fast amount, the row was, their development, watering in nourishment? They’re looking beautiful? The suggestion of sinister?
6. Bella, mental issues, long time working, lonely, with her dog, the dog suddenly turning, upset, putting it down? The theories about the effect of the flowers, the pollen, disturbing the brain, the science books and her illustrations about smell and the brain? The reviews with the rest of the staff, their dismissing them?
7. Chris, the attraction to Alice, friendship with Joe, wanting to have a drink, the time together, attempting to kiss, Alice and her reactions?
8. Bella, the interactions with Rick, his place in the work, his tricking Bella, locking her in? So long with the flowers, inhaling, her escaping through the window? The change of heart? In favour of the flowers?
9. The theory about the pollen, taking possession of the brain, affecting it, people not being themselves, to strip desperate to preserve the flowers?
10. Joe, is inhaling, his friendship with Selma, bringing her home, the visit to the greenhouse, the cameras, their spending time there? The effect on each of them? Joe and beginnings alienation from his mother, wanting to spend time with his father, his ignoring his mother? Selma and the meals? Chris and his visit, Alice not wanting him to stay for the meal?
11. Alice, her pride in her work, her ambitions, creativity, support of the authorities, the visits to her therapist and the discussions, especially about the effect of Little Joe?
12. The buildup to the success with the flowers, scientific acknowledgement, financial acknowledgement, the pride of the group?
13. The effect on Alice, suspicions, and the question whether the narrative was prudent being presented as realistic – or the audience inside Alice’s mind?
14. The final image, Alice talking to Little Joe – and its replying?