Life Cycles
Leeman
‘The life worth living is the one that you were given’
Directed and Written by Gus Vant Sant
Kristen Nielson as Mia’
Sigourney Weaver as Ellen
Mia Daniels has lead such a quite a happy life...
She was happily married at age 25....
Had two children by age 35...
Divorced at age 50....
Now , at age 60 - she has lost all her sense of life purpose. Living in a downtown dingy Brooklyn apartment with her cat companions Mittens, her life consists of soap operas , Doritos and US Weekly. She had a steady paying job at a local bookstore - Readers , however was fired after a long romantic relationship ended with the store’s manager. Her son , Kevin is one of New York’s top attorneys and support her finiaincally , however is beginning to want to set her up in the nursing home and disown him for her. Her daughter Amy is training as an historian , investigating in Peru and doesn’t have any time to visit. She is constantly reading in the tabloids of her ex-husband Richard Daniels romantic escapades with bachlorettes half his age. She often remises of how she got absolutely nothing out the divorce besides custody of Mittens. At her daily therapy sessions , she is always looking down upon herself as ‘an old hag’ or ‘wash up towel after a long shower’. Her therapist says how she needs to get out more , try new things....
After a five hour shift at coffee bean , she confidently bumps into old college roommate Ellen. They are so astonished to see each other after so long. As they continue to talk , they decide to go and get a bite to each. Over plate of donuts , they begin to chat about whats been happening. Ellen tells how she went through a stage after her divorce , where she didn’t know what life was worth living for. Mia is asks how did she deal with it. Ellen replied with ‘taking risks’.... They decided to relive their college days and go out on the town....
The morning after , Mia finds herself somewhere different.... An apartment not one he remembers. There is a man sleeping heavily next to her.... quite a young man. She is so tired that she cannot remember a thing. Mia quickly escapes from this apartment , leaving a note with her phone number on the pillow. As she walks back to her apartment , she almost feels invigorated... sensational. She calls Ellen and tells her how great she feels. ‘That’s what taking risks is about... the rewards that they bring you’ she replies. They continue to this partying and reckless living... Parties , Sex and Alcohol are often apart of their daily routines. A new Mia has been made.
However , sooner or later - past emotional demons begin to haunt her. The reliving of her past (caused by the hallogenics) including her marriage to Richard , her great academic potential that was evident during her college years in the journalism field and her fling with New York Governor Patrick Warren. The retelling of these memories causes her go wildly crazy and be entered mental institution , where she is diagnoised with bi-polar. After a few months , sh finally realizes that maybe the life she had on her own was fine. The reason why she was so continent with this life was because the one she wanted to live was so much of a fantasy, not a reality. She decides to move from her Brooklyn life and sell everything and travel around the world.
As she climbs the last steps of the Eiffel Tower , she looks out upon the French lights and realizes something. ‘The life worth living is the one that you were given.. fantasies only remain fantastic in your mind’.
She now knows what she has to do....
Awards Campaign
This film is utterly strange. There is no question about it. The simplisitc storyline may pose to be a bore for many audiences , however the film is much more than that. Through the eyes of our protagonist Mia , we see ourselves. There are times in life , when we feel to have no purpose. We feel alone and cold , with nowhere or no one to turn to. Finally, in modern cinema -Gus Vant Sant presents a truthful film , full of real and raw emtions. His screenplay is flawlessly honest in the retelling of extreme human behaviour. His sutle director plays great justice toward the film’s heart and soul. The film is presents a showcase from Tony Award nominee Kristen Nielson. Her performance as Mia is groundbreaking and an emotional powerhouse. Her cold and collected portrayal leaves audiences on the edge of their seat. This film maybe difficult to understand , however it definatley deals with honest truths of life in an engaging 90 minute film medium. This is a must see. This film was honoured by the Palm’Ore at the Canne Film Festival.
For Your Consideration
Best Picture
Best Director - Gus Vant Sant
Best Actress - Kristine Nielson
Best Supporting Actress - Sigourney Weaver
Best Screenplay (Writen Directly for the Screen) - Gus Van Sant
Leeman
‘The life worth living is the one that you were given’
Directed and Written by Gus Vant Sant
Kristen Nielson as Mia’
Sigourney Weaver as Ellen
Mia Daniels has lead such a quite a happy life...
She was happily married at age 25....
Had two children by age 35...
Divorced at age 50....
Now , at age 60 - she has lost all her sense of life purpose. Living in a downtown dingy Brooklyn apartment with her cat companions Mittens, her life consists of soap operas , Doritos and US Weekly. She had a steady paying job at a local bookstore - Readers , however was fired after a long romantic relationship ended with the store’s manager. Her son , Kevin is one of New York’s top attorneys and support her finiaincally , however is beginning to want to set her up in the nursing home and disown him for her. Her daughter Amy is training as an historian , investigating in Peru and doesn’t have any time to visit. She is constantly reading in the tabloids of her ex-husband Richard Daniels romantic escapades with bachlorettes half his age. She often remises of how she got absolutely nothing out the divorce besides custody of Mittens. At her daily therapy sessions , she is always looking down upon herself as ‘an old hag’ or ‘wash up towel after a long shower’. Her therapist says how she needs to get out more , try new things....
After a five hour shift at coffee bean , she confidently bumps into old college roommate Ellen. They are so astonished to see each other after so long. As they continue to talk , they decide to go and get a bite to each. Over plate of donuts , they begin to chat about whats been happening. Ellen tells how she went through a stage after her divorce , where she didn’t know what life was worth living for. Mia is asks how did she deal with it. Ellen replied with ‘taking risks’.... They decided to relive their college days and go out on the town....
The morning after , Mia finds herself somewhere different.... An apartment not one he remembers. There is a man sleeping heavily next to her.... quite a young man. She is so tired that she cannot remember a thing. Mia quickly escapes from this apartment , leaving a note with her phone number on the pillow. As she walks back to her apartment , she almost feels invigorated... sensational. She calls Ellen and tells her how great she feels. ‘That’s what taking risks is about... the rewards that they bring you’ she replies. They continue to this partying and reckless living... Parties , Sex and Alcohol are often apart of their daily routines. A new Mia has been made.
However , sooner or later - past emotional demons begin to haunt her. The reliving of her past (caused by the hallogenics) including her marriage to Richard , her great academic potential that was evident during her college years in the journalism field and her fling with New York Governor Patrick Warren. The retelling of these memories causes her go wildly crazy and be entered mental institution , where she is diagnoised with bi-polar. After a few months , sh finally realizes that maybe the life she had on her own was fine. The reason why she was so continent with this life was because the one she wanted to live was so much of a fantasy, not a reality. She decides to move from her Brooklyn life and sell everything and travel around the world.
As she climbs the last steps of the Eiffel Tower , she looks out upon the French lights and realizes something. ‘The life worth living is the one that you were given.. fantasies only remain fantastic in your mind’.
She now knows what she has to do....
Awards Campaign
This film is utterly strange. There is no question about it. The simplisitc storyline may pose to be a bore for many audiences , however the film is much more than that. Through the eyes of our protagonist Mia , we see ourselves. There are times in life , when we feel to have no purpose. We feel alone and cold , with nowhere or no one to turn to. Finally, in modern cinema -Gus Vant Sant presents a truthful film , full of real and raw emtions. His screenplay is flawlessly honest in the retelling of extreme human behaviour. His sutle director plays great justice toward the film’s heart and soul. The film is presents a showcase from Tony Award nominee Kristen Nielson. Her performance as Mia is groundbreaking and an emotional powerhouse. Her cold and collected portrayal leaves audiences on the edge of their seat. This film maybe difficult to understand , however it definatley deals with honest truths of life in an engaging 90 minute film medium. This is a must see. This film was honoured by the Palm’Ore at the Canne Film Festival.
For Your Consideration
Best Picture
Best Director - Gus Vant Sant
Best Actress - Kristine Nielson
Best Supporting Actress - Sigourney Weaver
Best Screenplay (Writen Directly for the Screen) - Gus Van Sant