Kajillionaire

Discovered during the Deauville American Film Festival, Miranda July's new film, Kajillionaire is not a simple traditional comedy and even less a dramatic film, it is above all a film about the family, whether it is Theresa and Robert and their daughter Old Dolio or a simple stranger Melanie whom they not only welcome among them but also that they will remodel at their convenience.

Theresa and Robert are not ordinary parents. They live on the margins of society as petty crooks, always ready to steal, lie and usurp other identities in order to not only live without working but also to live by their own moral code. Their only daughter, Old Dolio, seems to have grown up far away from the educational system and has been trained since childhood to follow her parents' example but also to be very original in implementing her plans such as stealing parcels from a sorting center or traveling for free by winning a contest. With Theresa's arrival, the relationship between Old Dolio and her parents will change forever.

Kajillionaire is as original as the previous films written and directed by Miranda July (Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005) and The Future (2011)). Far from these American comedies pre-formatted to appeal to the greatest number of spectators, this film is above all a true vision of a director on her time. By succeeding in creating a universe of her own, Miranda July brings to life a film that is not only original but also benefits from an excellent cast with Evan Rachel Wood, Richard Jenkins, Debra Winger, Gina Rodriguez. We can only recognize her talent to give her actors roles far from what they usually play, as shown so well by the character of Old Dolio played by Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld series, The Wrestler (2008), Charlie countryman (2013), Into the forest (2015) ...).

Director Miranda July thus places family relationships at the center of her story and makes no direct judgment on Theresa and Robert. They seem ready to do anything to have a life without being accountable to anyone, even if it means living in an old disinfected office, educating their only daughter in their own way, or even taking her money to continue their peaceful existence. Kajillionaire by its construction and its way of telling a story will not please everyone and this is what makes its unique charm. This painting of picturesque characters is well worth the detour and to be seen at the cinema to change one's mind in these difficult times.

Kajillionaire (USA; 106mns)
Directed by Miranda July
Produced by Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Youree Henrley
Written by Miranda July
Starring Evan Rachel Wood, Richard Jenkins, Debra Winger, Gina Rodriguez
Music by Emile Mosseri
Cinematography: Sebastian Winterø
Edited by Jennifer Vecchiarello
Production companies; Plan B Entertainment, Annapurna Pictures
Distributed by Focus Features (United States), Universal Pictures (International)
Release date: January 25, 2020 (Sundance), September 18, 2020 (United States), September 30, 2020 (France)
Running Time: 106mns

Seen on September 11, 2020 at the Centre International de Deauville

Mulder's Mark: