Moon, 66 Questions, 2021.
Directed by Jacqueline Lentzou.
Starring Sofia Kokkali, Lazaros Georgakopou and Nikitas Tsakiroglou.
SYNOPSIS:
While living in Paris, Artemis (Sofia Kokkali) is forced to return to her native Athens after her father becomes gravely ill. Estranged from her parents, she struggles to confront her past relationship with her dad while simultaneously acting as his carer. As the pair grow physically and emotionally closer, one long summer reveals all about how they came to be so distant.
Whether it’s through being ‘daddy’s little girl’ or ‘you are not the father’, the cultural rhetoric surrounding dads and their daughters no longer comfortably fits into the real world. Sometimes, this relationship can go subtly wayward, causing a lifetime of mental anguish without the dramatic explosions. Cinema has perhaps been quick to sideline alternative exploration of this dynamic, making Jacqueline Lentzou’s Moon, 66 Questions a particularly poignant watch for those that have felt a quiet parting of ways. Through a combination of surrealist visuals and homemade memories, the film dissects family tensions with satisfying payoffs.
For viewers that don’t have a penchant for performance, Moon, 66 Questions might be a more challenging watch. The film is entrenched in a sense of surrealism, depicting transitions through still life or a more cosmic and spiritual entity. Artemis’ emotions and experiences are fleetingly conveyed through the use of tarot cards, acting as a grounding antidote to the overlapping conversational chaos of her Greek family. Lentzou’s visual styling is fresh and ever-changing, taking us to the most vulnerable emotional reveals through home-recorded VHS tapes and winded monologues. There’s even an air of performance art to the narrative, with Artemis re-enacting a previous argument between her and her father in the comfort of her own bedrooms, resulting in a tearful collapse. The ability to express personal growth and realisation in such a myriad of ways feels effortless, although not entirely symbiotic with the artistic palettes of those that might see it.
Artemis herself is the bursting boil all of us have wanted to pop. Impeccably portrayed by Sofia Kokkali, she is a silent emulsion of coagulated feelings yet never truly finds her moment to erupt. The personal symphony of confusion and frustration is exactly what makes her so relatable, enviably calm in her attempts to help her father while navigating the never-ending waterfall of her family’s wants and wishes. There’s a stinging yet recognisable pain that comes with a child who lacks answers from a parent, putting on a brave face against the unknown to deal with issues like a well-conditioned daughter. Audiences can’t help but long for closure in Artemis’ own introspection, with her grounded character being both likeable and naively timid.
What Moon 66, Questions navigates the best is the astounding beauty in quiet physical intimacy. In helping her dad to navigate his MS, Artemis is brought closer to him in ways that could easily be stifling, from holding his hips through physical therapy sessions to merely guiding him across the room. As always, nothing speaks as loudly as our actions, with the film’s physical drama diving into who has held onto the past and who has chosen to forget. Through brightly lit living rooms and dark, moody hallways, the performance of human movement is the jewel in the crown of Lentzou’s directorial eye.
Though an acquired taste, Moon, 66 Questions offers a delicious bite to those who are attuned. There’s something both moving and visceral in the decision to almost separate actions from words, keeping each revelation separate while ubiquitously indulging the secrets of the other. It’s hard work to be a daughter, but the paths back to family unity might just be worth it.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Jasmine Valentine – Follow me on Twitter.
