Unusual is it that I would be drawn into coming-of-age films, let alone romantic comedies. The sickly sweet generic conventions of both genres tends to leave a bad taste in my mouth and the lack of realism distracts me as I am trying to believe that all loose ends tie up neatly and happily for an under-age pregnant girl with a surprising amount of pop-culture knowledge. Yes, I admit I have swooned for Ryan Reynolds in my time, but solely looking at the films-I am uninterested. However, I found Richard Ayoade's "Submarine" to be quite unalike any indie coming-of-age film I have seen before. Easily it has become one of my favourite films that I would recommend to anyone. I must confess, I was surprised with Richard Ayoade's skill as a director. I had assumed he was yet another actor trying to show the world he's not just a face in front of the camera but an intellectual too.
Ayoade's cinematography gripped me from the very beginning. You can see every shot is framed and positioned to great detail. Characterwise, He has also obviously shyed away from the conventional tall, dark and handsome protagonist and gone for a believably real, plain, every day "Oliver Tate". For me, this increases my empathy for the protagonist and his situation as I can picture myself as him, or I can picture him as a friend, he is someone I could know, he is everyone and anyone. We are inside his head as he describes the way he would imagine his life if it were a film. We are watching the creations of his mind. We are in his mind. Therefore, we are connected emotionally with him. His non-diegetic monologues show throughout the film he is a melodramatic and eccentric teenager. Nevertheless, this does not take from the realism. In a way his eccentricity adds to this as a form of naivety to the way the world works. Also, a lot of the over-the-top thoughts he comes out with, I can relate to, as I have thought them once before, maybe as a fleeting thought, however, this increases my empathy yet further. He is exceedingly relate-able For example,
"I find that the only way to get through life, is to picture myself in an entirely disconnected reality. I often imagine how people would react to my death. Mr. Dunthorne's quavering voice as he makes the announcement, the shocked faces of my classmates, a playground bedecked with flowers, the empty stillness of a school corridor, local news analysis, tear stricken tributes, candle lit devotions, and finally, my glorious resurrection." Haven't we all imagined how others would react to our death and maybe overshot our importance just a little? I find this incredibly entertaining as the screen plays out his humorously eccentric scenario. Situations like this reoccur throughout. "Don't ask how, just know that I am now more powerful than ever." he says, as he moves down the corridor towards the distraught young girls, transparent and glowing in a long black gown as he returns to the world that loves and misses him. One of my favourite quotes from the movie.
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| queue shot of our plain protagonist, back in the real world, vacant eyed but happier to imagine himself in another dimension as his fellow students show disregard for his general existence, juxtaposed with how they worship him in his mind. |
Honestly, in respect of the storyline, the real cherry on top of the cake was the ending. Generic of romantic drama, the male protagonist sweeps the female off her feet and they live happily ever after. However, Oliver and Jordana are completely void of convention. They are a countertype. Oliver runs towards her, desperate, she stares back at him blankly. "I was crying earlier, my eyes are probably red" he remarks, probably looking for sympathy "You look fine." she replied sharply, still holding the same blank expression. "Well maybe they don't go red when I cry then." At this point in your typical romantic film, Oliver would have picked Jordana up in an intense embrace and the camera would be whirling around them and craning out into a beautiful longshot fading into the credits. Instead, they continue the abrupt exchange of words, Jordana replying sharply. Jordana is a strong female role, she does not need Oliver to be happy, and this is why I enjoy her character so much. This adds depth to Jordana as she does not appear in the narrative only in respect to the male role. She does not represent what she can do for a man. She is not subject to the male gaze. In fact, she creates her own happiness. This is, indeed, a refreshing and inspiring female role.
They then share an intense stare and then step by step, they walk out into the ocean together. Like a metaphor for washing away their past mistakes and beginning again. The ending is left open, however for me, semiotics would indicate that they start anew. Oliver's turmoil is over and we have reached a new Equilibrium. Yes, this aspect may be generic, but what would a coming-of-age film be without an uplifting ending?
Overall, I can barely fault this film as it is one I hold dearly as a true favourite and I had no idea Moss from the IT Crowd had it in him. Five stars.
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