Tarnation
![Tarnation [2005]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0007Y8ABK.02.MZZZZZZZ.jpg)
I added Tarnation to my film queue on Lovefilm quite some time ago, and if I remember rightly, I was interested in it for the very shallow reason that it was entirely made using iMovie. However, it turned out to be a somewhat unique film for other reasons, and well worth watching. I should point out that it’s not the kind of film to watch if you’re in the mood for a light, entertaining film. It’s probably one of the most harrowing, disturbing films I’ve seen recently.
The writer, director—-and indeed the cameraman—-is Jonathan Caouette, and the film is mostly composed of pieces of 8 mm film he shot from the age of 11 onwards, spliced together with titles telling the story of his childhood with his schizophrenic mother. As you’re watching the fractured images and reading the story, you start to wonder a) how much worse things can possibly get for Jonathan’s mother (a young single mother), and for Jonathan, and b) you thank your lucky stars that you had a normal, stable family and an uneventful childhood.
Jonathan seemed (and still seems) to use the camera as a diary or confessional. He is painfully honest to the camera, talking about his feelings about his mother, and his feelings about his homosexuality, except when he acts out monologues, for example by playing the part of an abused woman who has murdered her husband. You get the feeling that he was hiding his own pain behind that of some imagined character.
The film comes up to the present day following his mother’s attempted suicide and the deterioration of her mental health, and his continuing relationship with her. Her prognosis and their history is so bleak, and yet through it all, he still loves her and feels connected to her. There’s a heartbreaking moment when he’s talking to the camera and taking a break from the exhausting business of interacting with her, and he breaks down with real fear in his eyes saying that he doesn’t want to end up like his Mom. He does at least have some hope in the shape of his lovely, stable boyfriend David, who seems to be about the only safe harbour in his life.
It really is a unique and remarkable film, but one that’s difficult to watch.
1
The word tarnation always makes me think of cowboy films, Gabby Hayes and "I said kiddelys diddle I"----- Tarnation reinds me of old cowboy films, Gabby Hayes and his "I said kiddelys diddle I".
by Jonathan Briggs @ 06/03/2006 10:03 pm • Permalink •
2
Odd - It said "0 comments", so I did it again, and lo and behold; 2 of them!
by Jonathan Briggs @ 06/03/2006 10:04 pm • Permalink •
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Great film.!
I was especially astonished by the acting of the 11 year old Jonathan when he was performing the role of the abused woman who killed her husband. I wonder where did he get the inspiration for it? Did he write the text by himself or was it some monologue from a movie maybe? At that age to be able to perform such a serious and tragic character is so amazing. I felt very close to Jonathan during the watching of the film because I personally had experienced the depersonalization phenomena in my teenage years. But it stopped when I first got drunk ....
by sleazy @ 29/03/2006 1:04 pm • Permalink •
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sleazy: Yes, he was amazing in those early clips. Quite eerie, actually.
by bsag @ 29/03/2006 6:03 pm • Permalink •
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