“A sour
yet funny exercise on having compassion.”
Two self-obsessed and abrasive gal pals are out for a comedy
odyssey in Fort Tilden, the debut feature
co-written and co-directed by Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers. Featuring twenty-something
New Yorkers who are still in their extended adolescence, this character-driven
film is a self-reflective analysis of who we are as a person and the kind of
live we are living.
On a whim, roommates Harper (Bridey Elliott) and Allie
(Clare McNulty) decide to take a break from doing nothing and travel from their
Williamsburg apartment to the beach at Fort Tilden. A self-confessed “mixed-medias”
artist who is not actually interested in her craft, Harper is the privileged,
spoiled child who is content to feed off his businessman father’s largesse. Meanwhile,
Allie plans to fly to Liberia with the Peace Corps for two years and after
which, study law or acupuncture or something.
Mounting some borrowed fixed-gear bikes, the duo begin their
journey towards Fort Tilden where they plan to meet up with cute guys, Russ
(Jeffrey Scaperrotta) and Sam (Griffin Newman), who they chatted with at a
rooftop concert the night before. But before that, Harper sets up the apartment
for a possible after-beach sex.
But it won’t be an easy trip. Broke, Harper keeps writing
checks she hopes will not be cashed quickly. Calling in sick to cancel an important
appointment with the Peace Corps, Allie keeps avoiding phone calls from her
placement officer. Together, they hurdle various episodes in their trip like
buying a $200 barrel, scoring some molly, get lost or stranded in a “ghetto,”
go shopping at a discount store, lose their bikes, ride an unlicensed cab ride,
care for a litter of abandoned kittens, and swim in freezing water.
With its simplistic plot and meager cast, Fort Tilden is a brisk, breezy and mean
comedy. It is an engaging film because of its sharply drawn characters, almost
transparent that we can see every nuance of their thoughts and emotions. Sadly,
they are very annoying, narrow-minded and shallow, far from being role models. They
are silly enough to ditch their responsibilities for a beach time and hopes of
getting laid. Allie, the less unlikable character, takes pride with her Peace
Corps association but being unable to navigate in the streets of New York, there
is a big question of the likelihood of her survival in war-torn Liberia. As much
as she just tags along Harper, she is pushed around by everything that happens.
Harper, the more stubborn one, seems to look at herself higher than everyone
else. She is the typical mean girl, mocking other people for their sincere efforts
and persuasions. But when she finds herself at the center of jokes, she becomes
defensive and impatient.
Their journey together has become a test of their character,
as their insecurity and confusion becomes more apparent. Like their wasted $200
barrel or the expensive cab ride, they are simply narcissistic, showy and pretentious.
It is evident in how Harper rolls her eyes at other people and how Allie is
fond of giving fake compliments with fake smiles. As much as they are lost in the
streets, they are also unsure of what they want with their lives. And when they
explode off against each other, it is a moment of truthfulness and kindness. As
much as they are able to give pity to the kittens, they are also capable of
empathy and affection for each other.
Technically, the film is decently edited, scored and
photographed. There is not a dull moment as the two characters, with all their
flaws and imperfections, are intriguing and watchable. Elliot and McNulty also
have good rapport and delivery.
Despite its unlikable characters, Fort Tilden is an enjoyable film to watch. It is not because of how the two leads
stupidly stare and argue while a kid steals their bike. It is not because of
how a store owner puts ice on hot coffee with her bare hands to make them “iced
coffee” for the two heroines. And it is not also because of the topless scene in
the end, where a quarter of girls let their bare breasts hang loose at the
beach. But it is because of how the two main characters, without realizing it, develop some
kind of compassion and humanity.
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