David O'ConnellMIFF 2011: Littlerock
July 31st 2011 04:06
Littlerock is one of those small, unassuming gems that makes any film Festival a more varied and richer all round experience. Its modesty is disarming, its scale not quite as narrow as it appears on the surface. Mike Ott’s film is the story of a Japanese brother and sister, Atsuko (Atsuko Okatsuka) and Rintaro (Rintaro Sawamoto), who stray into a tiny Californian desert town after their rental car breaks down, requiring a two day wait for another.
Their interaction with the locals is initiated by friendly Cory (Cory Zacharia) who takes a shine to Atsuko, keen to show her the humble sights Littlerock has to offer. When Rintaro decides to continue their intended trip he’s forced to go it alone for a couple days due to Atsuko’s desire to simply hang around and absorb Littlerock's atmosphere.
Littlerock is a funny, endearing take on small town life and the frustrations of miscommunication - and the type sometimes only tenously linked to language. It’s always satisfying to see a film that doesn’t feel a need to extend itself in unnatural ways; here, the narrative arc bends only to serve the story, not a need to fill out any expectations dictated by worn-out filmmaking conventions.
Zacharia's performance is its heart and soul. Cory is the quintessential good guy; he embodies a naiveté in embracing a stranger at face value, hoping for a delicious irony: connected to a person who may understand nothing of his language but more about his true essence than his father or any other locals – all of whom ridicule him for his perhaps deluded artistic pursuits.
Is Corey’s attraction sadly misdirected? He offers her a place in the home he shares with his father. She’s drawn to his sweetness and purity but may be more interested in seeking physical pleasure from Cory’s rival for her affections.
The cloudless desert backdrop is beautifully contrasted with the intense scrutiny of Atsuko’s puzzled face; we constantly see this world’s fascinating incoherence filtered through her eyes. She may seem inscrutable but snippets of letters she composes to her father back home offer valuable, tantalising insights into her own story. Littlerock is perfection on a small scale.
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