SXSW 2021 Review – Violet

How you perceive ‘Violet’ will be a Rorschach Test based on who you are, very much like Director Justine Bateman’s 80s SitCom, ‘Family Ties’.   

Depending upon your world view, Family Ties was either about Baby Boomers in their 30’s dealing with their teenage kids; OR about Michael J. Fox’s young Republican, Alex P. Keaton, dealing with his ex-Hippie parents.  How you saw the world reflected how you saw the show.

Caught in the middle as middle child ‘Mallory’, Justine Bateman often faded into the background.  As Director of ‘Violet’, Bateman creates a polarizing story, herself.  Depending on your own world view, you will view the titular Violet as either the heroine, OR the villainess.

The Plot

‘Violet’ stars Olivia Munn as our titular character.  A successful Film Executive at a mid-sized company, Violet excels at her job, but lacks respect from either her subordinates, or her boss.  Her underlings ask Violet to do THEIR work, invading her space along the way.  But, instead of standing up for herself, Violet is a pushover.

On top of all of that, Violet is not alone.  She has at least two OTHER voices inside her head creating self doubt.  

The first voice of doubt speaks with a John Madden-style telestrator; hand written, white text, over the video of our film.  This inner-child voice is cautious and fearful, seen and not heard.  The second voice of doubt is an actual audible Voice, played by Jennifer Aniston’s ex-Husband, Justin Theroux.  An authoritative, baritone tone; everything Voice commands Violet to do goes against her best interests.

Together, Violet calls these voices ‘The Committee’, and bends her decisions to meet their will.  As a result, her boss and her co-workers see her as a pushover who won’t fight for what she wants or what is right.  In her personal life, The Committee rules Violet’s romantic life, as well.  

 ‘I feel like I don’t know who I am anymore.’

Inner-Child Telestrator

Violet starts her morning in the middle of a construction zone.  While ‘Head of Production’ at work and owning her own home, Violet’s house is being remodeled.  She’s staying with Red, her childhood friend with six pack Abs and sculpted biceps belying his career as a Screenwriter.  Red’s house is, ALSO, being re-modeled as he sarcastically rolls his eyes at the ‘lazy’ contractors.  ‘Another 3 weeks??!!’  

Red might be the ‘Right’ romantic choice, but he’s starting the film in the Friend Zone.  In this case, that means he’s being FORCED to finish his TWO screenplays in his poolhouse.  What a difficult life to lead.

‘Help me.  Help me.’

Inner-Child Telestrator

At the office, Violet’s Committee has worked it’s wonders for her romantic life benefitting her work life.  Flower bouquet, delivered to her desk; with the note ‘Roger Vale, Universal Pictures.’  Underlings and Boss, Tom played by Dennis Boutsikaris, take notice.  That is they take notice, as they pile more work on her desk.

Twenty-something office douchebag, Bradley – snakily played by Zach Gordon, pawns off his work on Violet, and loudly asks about her pet project, ‘Fox Run’ in front of Tom.  Violet (and Bradley) know that Fox Run is not likely to be filmed, but Bradley raises the subject to Tom, forcing Violet to pitch the project.

Instead of putting Bradley in his place, Violet meekly plays along.  Her anxiety reaches such a fever pitch, a red tint dissolves over the screen, while a loud buzz over takes the sound as well.

‘This is who I should be dating.’

Voice, by Justin Theroux

While at Lunch with her friend Lila, played by Erica Ash, Violet sees Roger Vale across the room.  Voice thinks dating Roger would be good for her career, and Violet says so to Lila.  Lila favors Red for Violet, but her opinion falls on deaf ears.

The Good – Violet

Director Justine Batemen shows off Violet’s inner dialogue and inner conflict in a distinct and highly stylized way.

Violet’s anxiety and/or budding schizophrenia manifest differently depending on her situation.  The inner child telestrator and audible Voice push her decision making.  The red tint/buzzing audio show Violet’s overwhelm when dealing with Office and Personal drama.  And, childhood memories play out as scenes, and literal projected scenes in current day, as she disassociates with reality.

Additionally, Batemen cuts away to quick shots of repeating footage – a decomposing racoon, running through a wheat field, etc.  The edits become faster and more frenetic as Violet’s stress builds.  Combined, these techniques give the viewer an accurate barometer into Violet’s current psyche and guide us through her growth as a character.

‘No no no no.’ 

Inner-Child Telestrator

‘A Writer??!!  Career suicide…’ 

Voice, by Justin Theroux

As we get into the second act, and the glamorous Hollywood business scene and Violet’s place within it, come into focus.

Violet gets a job offer from a rival studio that values her work, AND what she has to say.  A successful film Director offers to make Fox Run with her.  And, Red’s place in her life develops into more than just a friendship.  Even if Voice doesn’t think Red romance is good for her career; Violet starts to question whether Voice is right.

The Bad

‘I want him.  Why am I so f***ing afraid?  I thought I was better.  No no no no.’

Inner-Child Telestrator

While Violet is our main character, it is not entirely clear whether is the heroine of our story.

Because we see the story from Violet’s point of view, we do not know how reliable or impartial the reality of the situation really is.  We see Violet’s Brother as a used car salesman, who criticises her Hollywood career and lifestyle.  He then hands the phone over to Violet’s busy body of an Aunt, who’s shrill tone of voice and guilt trips quickly validate Violet’s reluctance to even answer the phone.  Is this really the reality of Violet’s Brother, or is this just her perception of her family affecting how we see them?  Is he right that she sees herself as above them and their simple lifestyle in a small town?

‘I want to fall into this lake, and feel the water cover my new skin.’

Inner-Child Telestrator

We also meet Martin, Violet’s old boyfriend from 7 years ago.  Violet makes a conscious decision to leave their apartment, WITHOUT blowing out candles.  When she returns to find the apartment on FIRE, Martin yells at her in a mean way for being so careless.  The way the scene is portrayed, Martin is out of place and is simply being mean for assigning blame or responsibility to her decisions.

First, Violet is shown as looking down on construction workers renovating Red’s home, literally yelling at her best friend during lunch, and ignoring her family.  Next, she even blows off her own mother’s funeral because she yelled at Violet as a child.  All of this behavior is either forgiven with a simple apology, or justified as a side effect of The Committee in her head.  Still, Violet is treated like the heroine in the story.  

The Review – Violet

‘Violet’ at its core is a relatively simple plot, with a highly complicated narrative.

A simple three act structure with a familiar feel.  Act I, main character; under appreciated at work and dates the wrong people.  Act II, main character; realizes she’s under-appreciated at work and dating the wrong people.  Act III, main character; stands up for herself at work and starts dating the right person.  And, if you’re reading this review, you’re probably a big enough movie fan to have seen this narrative before.  That part isn’t new.

What makes this film stand out is the highly stylized look inside Violet’s head, and how she sees the world.  The wide variety of techniques used by Director Justine Bateman pull the viewer into the story.  How do YOU view ‘Violet’??!!  That takes us back to the beginning of this review.  It all depends on where you’re coming from; a Rorschasch Test.

YOU decide.

92 minutes.

Additional Information.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6852672

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