Cinema Scholars reviews Sundown, Michel Franco’s mysterious drama starring Tim Roth and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Bleecker Street will release Sundown in select theaters starting January 28th, 2022.
Introduction
When most people envision a mystery movie, the traditional detective-unpacking-a-crime is usually what comes to mind. However, a broader definition of the genre reveals more nuanced and unexpected variations on the theme that certainly qualify.
For instance, unlike the usual whodunit, sometimes a film can revolve around a mysterious character, and the audience plays detective, picking up clues to unlock the secrets behind the enigmatic person. In Michel Franco’s latest feature, Sundown, that enigma is actor Tim Roth.
Synopsis
Directing Roth again following their collaboration with 2017’s Chronic, Franco begins his avant-garde puzzler with the image of freshly caught fish gasping and hanging onto their last moments of life. In the next moment, Neil, a middle-aged vacationer, is beckoned by the twenty-somethings of the family to jump in the warm Acapulco waters.
From here, familiar visions of a lazy, lavish family vacation slowly unfold. Dinner and drinks, daily excursions, and seaside massages are the makings of a picture-perfect getaway. Soon, however, news of a family emergency back in London finds its way to paradise, interrupting their luxurious holiday.
When the group arrives at the airport in order to catch their last-minute flight back home, Neil discovers that his passport is missing. as a result, he must leave his loved ones so he can retrieve them, and catch a later flight. This is when any semblance of expectation is thrown completely out the window.
A Left Turn
Rather than searching for his lost credential and joining back up with his fold, Neil inexplicably takes a cab to the heart of the city. He promptly rents a motel room that is a far cry from the elegance of his former digs. Avoiding the incessant phone calls from his family, an emotionless Neil bides his time by soaking up his surroundings, drinking buckets of beer on the beach, and picking up a few friends (and enemies) along the way.
As he continues this new life of nothing day after day, going through the motions without explanation, the obvious questions are begged. Is this guy nuts? Or is he ruthless? Is he apathetic? Or maybe he’s just a total narcissist? Thankfully, these questions and more are eventually answered. At the same time, even the most basic assumptions about Neil are disproved one by one.
Commentary
Early in Sundown, a fascinating juxtaposition of the high life and the more common beach experience provides a silent commentary on classism. Yachts, private bungalows, and fine dining contrast with images of packed beaches, the cacophony of the city, and Neil’s less-than-luxurious accommodations.
The comparison only adds to the queries surrounding this odd duck. Despite utter impassiveness, Neil seems to be content no matter where he lands. He truly lives in the moment with zero inclination to adhere to any plan but his non-plan. Like an art house Office Space, doing absolutely nothing seems to be the modus operandi.
The few interactions that Neil does have with other people are often marked by pockets of awkward silence and uneasiness. There’s no friendly small talk or cordial smiles to make others feel comfortable. Yet, Neil does manage to forge a connection or two despite his unrelenting detachment.
Performances In Sundown
Throughout Sundown, Neil’s mood can best be described as completely apathetic, though Roth’s performance is anything but. With very little dialogue, the actor manages to convey hints of emotion through his character’s subdued disposition. Even when he becomes entangled in a murderous plot, Neil’s demeanor remains as nonchalant as ever. It takes a special kind of talent to carry a film with so little to say and emote. Roth’s enthralling indifference is one of the major reasons Sundown works.
As the harried and perplexed matriarch of the family, Alice, Charlotte Gainsbourg’s few yet powerful appearances in the film are crucial. Her exasperated portrayal aids in Neil’s unfolding story and is also pivotal as far as bucking expectations. Gainsbourg’s pithy resignation to Neil’s escapades nicely mirrors the building sense of frustration with the film’s protagonist.
In a nuanced performance that compliments Roth’s deadpan, Iazua Larios brings the film to a much-needed simmer. Her low-key portrayal also creates a bit of mystery for herself. Neil’s interactions with Larios’ inquisitive but calm presence adds an extra layer of complexity and much-needed sensitivity to the story.
Further Analysis
The film features little to no score and instead relies on the ambient soundtrack of Neil’s surroundings. Again, the tranquil silence and gentle sounds of nature at the high-end resort provide a sharp contrast to the loud, thumping bustle of the tourist center. Music usually serves to push the emotional pitch of a scene. However, Franco uses its absence to let the revelations unfold without spoon-feeding the audience.
Thankfully, Sundown isn’t completely aimless. An intriguing narrative gradually forms as discoveries about Neil and his family’s wealth come to light. Though confounding and deliberately dawdling, Franco has devised a captivating story that reads more contemplative than indulgent. Lively imagery of local life gives the film a sort of tempo that saves it from doldrums. The suspense in figuring out Neil’s reasons and intentions also helps keep the super-slow burn interesting.
Conclusion
Sundown is a true mystery in every sense, even if it doesn’t follow the tropes typical of the genre. It’s the riddle of a man and what on earth is motivating him to suddenly abandon his real life for a permanent vacation. It’s also a thought-provoking exercise in releasing preconceived notions about people, another fundamental in the art of inquest.
As the details of Neil’s plight gradually crystallize, Franco makes you rethink Neil’s questionable behavior, the underlying context in presumed meaningless moments, and even those flailing, suffocating fish.
Bleecker Street will release Sundown in select theaters starting January 28th, 2022.
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