SYNECHDOCHE, NEW YORK
US, 2008, 123 minutes, Colour.
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Katherine Keener, Emily Watson, Tom Noonan, Diane Weist.
Directed by Charlie Kaufman.
Set in Schenectady in upper New York state, this is a life drama and a death drama.
Written by Charlie Kaufman, who tantalised audiences with his imaginings, both creative and bizarre, in Being John Malkovich, Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, this film marks his directing debut. For some minutes, it looked as if he was going to present a ‘normal’ family in ‘normal’ situations and one wondered what he was up to. But, there was no need for apprehension. He soon moves off into the realms of the imagination.
Yes, a ‘synecdoche’! That is what Wikipedia is for, so (with acknowledgement to Wikipedia), Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which:
a term denoting a part of something is used to refer to the whole thing, or
a term denoting a thing (a "whole") is used to refer to part of it, or
a term denoting a specific class of thing is used to refer to a larger, more general class, or
a term denoting a general class of thing is used to refer to a smaller, more specific class, or
a term denoting a material is used to refer to an object composed of that material.
The use of synecdoche is a common way to emphasize an important aspect of a fictional character; for example, a character might be consistently described by a single body part, such as the eyes, which come to represent the character. This is often used when the main character does not know or care about the names of the characters that he/she is referring to.
So, that is what Charlie Kaufman is doing here. Fortunately, he has a strong cast to do it with.
Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Caden, a theatre director who is something of a hypochondriac, especially as so many things go wrong with him physically. But, things go wrong otherwise. His artist wife (Catherine Keener) leaves for a Berlin exhibition with their young daughter and her best friend (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Caden is directing a young cast in Death of a Salesman which stars Claire (Michelle Williams). The theatre assistant, Hazel (Samantha Morton) has a crush on him.
So far, so good. Then Caden wins a grant which enables him to go to New York and stage ‘a really important play’ in a huge abandoned warehouse. The rest of the film takes place in a parallel universe or, perhaps or definitely, inside Caden’s head. But we watch him direct the play of his own life for twenty years, changing the dialogue, re-building elaborate sets, getting new ideas, hiring actors, Tom Noonan as Sammy to play himself and Emily Watson as Tammy to play Hazel. Since Hazel is Caden’s assistant there are some clashes there.
Then, at some stage, Millicent (Dianne Wiest) is hired to portray a nurse but eventually considers that she could play Caden himself and direct the play, which she does as Caden assumes something of her identity.
Actually, that makes some sense in describing an overview of what happens – although there is a great deal more detail, character interplay and clash – and it all being a synecdoche of Caden. The conclusion, apart from several deaths and funerals: that one needs to see the film again.
1.The work of Charlie Kaufman, his unusual imagination? Perspective on life? Existential misery? A journey through life to death?
2.The title, Synechdoche, the town, New York Upstate, ordinary life, the blend of the banal and the humorous, the sadness?
3.Ordinary life, the family waking up, listening to the radio, the family, autumn and the poem by Rilke, breakfast, playing with the children, getting ready for school? His work in the theatre, directing, the young actors doing Death of a Salesman, the rehearsals, his comments, the first night and the success? His friendship with Hazel and her liking him? His relationship with Adele, the tension at home? His love for Olive? Adele’s exhibition, wanting some time away, the separation? The visit of Maria and her friendship with Adele? His friendship with the cast, especially Claire?
4.Going to the psychiatrist, the couple together, the manner of the psychiatrist, recommending her books? Adele saying she wished Caden could die, a new start? The separation, his continuing to go to the psychiatrist, issues of identity? His buying her book, the payment, reading the book and seeing her next to him on the plane? The ending years later and the books strewn in the street?
5.Caden, his life, waking up, family, the touch of hypochondria, his continued worry about himself, Olive and the examination of the faeces, the cartoons and the indications of virus? The accident in the bathroom, the blood, the stitches, his worrying about a scar? Going to the ophthalmologist and his worries, being recommended to the neurologist? The pustules breaking out on his face and his explanations to Olive, on his leg, the continued malfunctioning of his organs, his concern?
6.Adele, the nature of her miniature art, at home, her love for Olive, in the car, wanting Caden to use precise words? Not going to the play, the evening with Maria, getting high? Going to the performance, the congratulations? The separation – and her virtual disappearance in Berlin?
7.Caden, his decision, his getting the grant, going to New York, deciding to put on a spectacular play, being taken to the warehouse? The importance of the warehouse, as a theatrical space, his continually building on it for twenty years and changing it?
8.Hazel, her love for Caden, pursuing him, the outings, the discussions, the sexual encounter and his impotence, her anger? His relationship with Claire? The performance? Hazel and her marrying Derek, having the family? Caden and his imaginary alternate marriage with Claire, the child, yet still wanting to find Olive?
9.Caden’s play, the changing of titles, the passing of twenty years, Caden and his physical changes, his health? His appearance? The walking stick? The rehearsals every day, the changing cast, getting new ideas, directing the play, changing everything?
10.The invitation for Hazel to be his assistant, her ageing over the years, her relationship with Caden, her marriage to Derek, the twins? The domestic scenes? Her eventually leaving Derek? At work, the friendship with Sammy, liking him, going out? The talk with Caden? The performance by Tammy of Hazel and her character, Tammy with ideas, changing Hazel’s character? Hazel being hurt? Hazel’s love for Caden, Sammy and his killing himself, Hazel’s death? The funerals?
11.Imagining Olive, her changes, growing up, lost, her becoming a sex object, the tattoos, the relationship with Maria, her life ending, wanting Caden present, wanting him to confess his offences against her, her forgiveness? Maria’s arrival and her spurning of Caden?
12.Tammy, looking like Hazel, performing as Hazel? With Sammy and the performance? The clashes with Hazel, meanness? The night with Caden, the sexual attitude, the aftermath?
13.The role of Ellen in the story, going to Casting, Millicent being chosen, the interview with her, the makeup? Her performance, the old lady in the corridor, the key not fitting, the room? The effect? Her continued performance, her wanting to be Caden, her speech, deciding that she could be, the transformation, her becoming the director, talking to the actors unlike Caden, Caden becoming Ellen, the old woman in the corridor? The final direction and her performance as Caden, walking? The experience of death?
14.The passing of the years, the elaborate set, the change?
15.The philosophical themes about possibilities, about alternate worlds, reality and unreality, the imagination, creativity, mistakes and starting over, losses, illness, relationships?
16.The focus on death, so many funerals, the build-up to Caden’s own death?
17.The film as entertainment, as a thoughtful piece? Absurd and existential?
