SONGBIRD
US, 2020, 84 minutes, Colour.
KJ Apa, Sofia Carson, Craig Robinson, Bradley Whitford, Peter Stormare, Lia Mc Hugh, Paul Walter Hauser, Demi Moore.
Directed by Adam Mason.
Songbird was released at the end of 2020. Presumably production took place during the year, the filmmakers experiencing coronavirus, the seemingly sudden pandemic, experiences of lockdown, and found this action thriller through having nightmares – or, at least, transferring them to their computers for a nightmarish plot, and the question as to how long the pandemic would last. They decided that it would be still with us in 2024, devastating Los Angeles, the wealthy surviving in lockdown luxury, those with Covid 23 (alarming information in itself) gathered by the government Department of Sanitation and relegated to a huge walled quarantine area.
So, an early movie contribution to the Covid 19 experience.
And, stirred into the screenplay are a romance, brutal behaviour by sanitation officials, a racket to provide immune bands to those prepared to pay. Plenty of melodramatic ingredients.
The romance is quite lively, especially with KJ Apa as Nicky, starting as a law student but forced by the pandemic to be a courier for a huge, Amazon -like company which delivers packages on order, which arrive at their destination, go into a sanitising box, retrieved by the customers. GPS, phones, drones ensure security. Nick is in love with Sarah (Sofia Carson) who is in lockdown with her Grammy figure, who does succumb to Covid 23. Nicky would like to get Sarah an immune band, he himself being immune and free to cycle around the Los Angeles Hills as courier.
The main villain of the piece is played by Peter Storemare (originally from Sweden but becoming one of the most regular villains on the American screen). By default, he has become the chief of sanitation, imperious and sadistic. But, he is also involved in the racket for providing the false immune bands. This is run by a wealthy family, the husband rather ruthless (Bradley Whitford) also involved with a singer whose career has been cut short (Alexandra Daddario). The singer is online with the controller of drones, Paul Walter Hauser, wheelchair bound but who saves the day for her. The wife, Demi Moore, cares for their sick young daughter but is also involved in the racket. Nicky is referred to them. Which, of course, provides quite a deal of action, doubledealing, betrayals, confrontations, fights.
This is the kind of entertainment that was produced very quickly, not intended to be high art, nor even subtle. It’s the kind of pastime romantic thriller that one might watch in lockdown or on a slow night.
- 2020 and the covid epidemic, the drama reflecting this, especially lockdown and its conditions, taking it further, three more years, covert 23?
- Los Angeles setting, the overviews of the city, the deserted freeways, barriers for cars, couriers, the companies sending parcels, their being sanitised? Lockdown, affluent homes and apartments? The sanitation officials? The glimpse of the quarantine area, the strict enclosure?
- The title? Clues? Characters? Songs and performance?
- Nico’s story, immune, his age, studying law, the pandemic, his job as a courier, his bike, speed, charm, the customers, his love for Sarah, concerned for her and her grandmother? Working with Lester? With Mike Dozer and his surveillance, drones? His wanting to get immunity for Sarah? The contacts, Lester’s advice, going to the Griffins, the confrontation with William, Piper giving him an address, sending him to Harland, the audience knowing his work and sanitation? The conflict, stabbing, the officials in pursuit, the intervention of the lone action man? Nico’s escape, contacting Piper, persuading her, getting the immunity card, Lester and Mike tracking Sarah? Going to the apartment, Harland present, the previous fight, the confrontation, the gift of the pencils for art, stabbing Harland? At the gates, slipping on the immunity band, Sarah being verified – and happy ending and escape? On the bike along the California coast?
- Sarah’s story, with her Grammy, Lita, memories of her mother? Surviving lockdown? The bonding with Nico, phones, images, texting? Lita, Sarah helping, dying, the sanitation people coming, Sarah hiding, getting the uniform, in the ambulance, the confrontation with Harland? Nico arriving, immune, safe?
- The Griffins, their affluence, the young daughter and her illness, her mother’s care? Their business, getting immunity cards, high prices? William, going to visit May, lying to Piper, the sexual encounters? Piper watching him? William phoning May, his demands, her wanting to escape, checking with Mike, the car not starting, William at the car, Mike and the drone, killing him? Her escape, meeting up with Mike? Her career as a singer?
- Mike, war service, in the wheelchair, surveillance, loner, friendship with Lester? The surveillance of the couriers? The drones? The contact with May, her songs for him, their talking? Rescuing her?
- Lester, the warehouse, the contacts, the couriers, efficient? Informing Piper about Nico? Helping Nico at the end?
- Happy ending? Piper collaborating against her husband, saving her daughter?
- The image of epidemics in the future, the extent of lockdown, government control, Department of sanitation, the immune, the quarantine?
