Bad Behaviour
⭐️ (out of 5)
Nepotism can be a double-edged sword for those who strive to make a name for themselves in any industry. This is especially true of those within the entertainment industry who must live up to or live down the reputation of their famous relatives. First-time director, writer, and actor Alice Englert (Beautiful Creatures) may not carry the name of her mother, Academy Award winner Jane Campion. Still, the pressure must have been immense for her to succeed as a filmmaker.
Her choice to take on a divergent genre from her mother was a wise choice for the young director. This dark comedy is set in the lush bushland of New Zealand at a retreat centre for people looking to address their past. Lucy (Jennifer Connelly) is a former child actress who is looking for direction for the life that she has lived since her days of fame. Elon Bello (Ben Whishaw) is a spiritual guru who has intense rules and methods to help his attendees get in touch with themselves. Until the acclaimed actress, Beverly (Dasha Nekrasova) arrives and turns everything in Lucy’s world upside down. She must deal with this adversarial situation while trying to connect with her daughter, Dylan (Englert), who is attempting to make a name for herself as a stunt performer on a local production.
What initially stands out about this film is how immersed Jennifer Connelly and Ben Wishaw are in their characters. These captivating performers manage to absorb their roles with convincing methods, even when the storyline loses its way. They show us how strong performances can be lost in the chaos of poorly executed screenplays. There was nothing this pair could do to save this disjointed adventure that meanders along and fails to come to a satisfactory conclusion.
Despite having a solid start and a stellar cast, there were few redeemable aspects of this film. Each actor gave the on screen impression that they were as confused as the audience throughout this production. Bad Behaviour was screened at the 2023 Sydney Film Festival, and it was one of the rare moments when no one clapped at the end. All this film leaves you with is the yearning for it to finish and to look for a retreat centre to escape the mental anguish it caused.
Reel Dialogue: What can we really know about God's view on motherhood?
Genesis 1:27 - So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
It can be said that God created mankind, but to say He created fathers and mothers, is not too much of a stretch. God can precisely convey some of his marvellous traits through the beautiful role of mothers. The role and struggles of mothers in Bad Behaviour provide a depiction of motherhood that is one of love wrapped in protection, care, and sacrifice. The creative team also manages to show the significant needs of parents in all stages of the journey.
People may have different experiences with their mothers. Still, in God’s original plan, it can be seen that the beautiful traits of mothers reflect His traits to care and love for his children. Also, the Bible shows how the community needs to provide care for the women who sacrifice so much for their families.
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