ADVANTAGEOUS
US, 2015, 93 minutes, Colour.
Jacqueline Kim, James Urbaniak, Freya Adams, Ken Jeong, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Kim.
Directed by Jennifer Phang.
Advantageous is a rather quiet, futuristic film with elements of science-fiction. It originated as a short film by writer-director, Jennifer Phang, and this feature film won awards at the Sundance Festival.
The film was cowritten with the leading actor, Jacqueline Kim, actor, singer.
The setting is a futuristic city, not grim, the sun shining, vast high-rise buildings, some drones in explosive action over the city, but generally a city that most audiences would recognise, sufficient similarities with the present.
The focus of the film is on Jacqueline Kim’s character, Gwen, an expert in promoting procedures for enhancing beauty. She has a strong reputation but she is growing older and the powers that be are looking for a younger face to promote. She is interviewed, very slightly by Jennifer Ehle cautiously by James Urbaniak with whom she has a relationship. She is persuaded to undergo a facial transformation, a more European face chosen, her going through the process, emerging as the younger face for promotion.
However, the important aspect of her life is her commitment to her daughter, an intelligent youngster, the future before her. Gwen decides to go through the procedure, get the money to facilitate her daughter’s further education.
As said, the film is rather quiet even when exploring futuristic themes, competitive business and exploitation, family betrayals. The ultimate message is a hope for the future generation.’
- Science fiction? Science future? American society, individuals, hopes and ambitions, moral choices, the future and hopes?
- The visuals of the city of the future, similar to contemporary images, vistas of high-rise, drones and attacks? The contrast with familiar and ordinary sequences at home, officers, school? The musical score?
- The title, the tone, advantages, especially for the next generation?
- Gwen’s story and Jules’ story? Gwen and her personality, age, her care for Jules, the later revelation about the relationship with Han, his paternity Gwen not revealing it? Her bringing up Jules, concern, prospect for school entries, prejudices, racism? Her work, the promotion of beauty, advertising, campaigning, the interview with the company, her relationship with Dave Fisher, the smooth interview with Isa Cryer? The prospect of her changing her image, contracts, payments, absence from home, the benefit for Jules?
- The background of business in the future, the technology available, means of communication, voice, screens? Interviews? Smooth talk, more sinister aspects behind the scenes? Gwen and her signing the contract, going away? The transformation? The choice of the new image, not Asian?
- Jules, age, bright and intelligent, her comments, her friends at school, the visuals of the girls, the games, conversations? Her relationship with her mother, strong relationship, her concern for her mother? Her mother going away? Her going to the camp, communication, her mother’s return, accepting the new image, continuing family life?
- Lily, the contacts with Gwen, not for a long time, Gwen deciding to visit, the confrontation with Han, his relationship with Lilly, the boys, the revelation of the truth, Lilly’s reaction, the reaction of Han?
- A quiet, more contemporary to the times look at the future, society, technological developments, the quest for beauty and non-ageing, the future for children?
