EXCLUSIVELY AT THE IFI

Todd Solondz’s latest once again ponders the emotional lives of suburbia’s socially marginalised, in this instance Abe (Jordan Gelber), an overweight, 30-something man-child who still lives with his parents, tends his action-figure collection, and has seemingly little prospects of ever finding love. He still considers himself a ‘dark horse’ however, and when he’s stuck beside Miranda (Selma Blair) at a wedding, he’s determined to pursue her, lacking the social skills to read that this over-medicated and evidently troubled individual may not be for him.

Not unfamiliar terrain from the maker of Happiness and Palindromes, yet the difference here is a new warmth and compassion for his protagonist as Solondz effectively takes us inside Abe’s consciousness to show us the fears, desires and sense of lost innocence he can’t share with others. Definitely Solondz’s most touching movie to date, and bolstered with top-notch support from Mia Farrow and Christopher Walken as the tough-love parents, and an excellent Justin Bartha as Gelber’s annoyingly successful brother. (Notes by Trevor Johnston.)

IFI IRISH SHORTS

This screening will include the IFB-supported short film The Birth of rock, directed by Michael Lee. 3 minutes, 2009, Colour.