The Souvenir

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Alain E A very tricky film, not destined to become a mega hit. In my opinion it is a great success, but if someone doesn’t appreciate developments under the surface, it is perceived as boring and pretentious. It concerns a love triangle between an accomplished man and a younger woman and the same man and heroin. The woman is not unattractive, but heroin wins. We are familiar with this scenario with pretty famous protagonists in the past like Jimi Hendrix or Janis Joplin. The movie succeeds because the information is supplied in ways that we participate in the disaster. The main character is played by a very fine young actress who has inherited the best genes of Tilda Swinton. Her mother has a supporting part and is not easily recognizable without her trademark blonde/platinum hair. There is excellent color photography and some inventive elements like showing the bedroom window view during the few sex scenes. Sex and drug use occur off screen. The viewers witness the consequences. Some guy called Martin Scorsese is one of the executive producers and Neil Young appears as a radio interviewer! Watch the credits people. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/20/25 Full Review Dave S Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir sounds like pretty standard fare on paper – a young film student, Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne), finds herself in a dysfunctional relationship with an aloof heroin addict (Tom Burke). Early in the film, Julie and her fellow students discuss the shower scene from Psycho, touching on the fact that not all has to be seen in order to understand what has transpired, a technique used throughout Hogg’s film, where time appears to be elastic and exposition is rarely used to explain a situation or develop a character. Based on its slow tempo and unusual rhythms, this probably isn’t a movie for everyone, but is worth watching for anyone interested in a unique approach to a seemingly mundane storyline. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/01/25 Full Review O g Were I objectively rating this, 1-star would perhaps be harsh. There is interesting raw material here in terms of theme and form. The latter, using a fragmented, transitory and opaque style, was by no means unsuccessful. Unfortunately it was a bit too pleased with itself for doing it. It deliberately jumps through time, requiring the viewer to fill in the gaps. This is fine but, given the film is style over substance, it makes the emotional aspect feel self-indulgent and detached. The film also does the pathos in a way that is simultaneously light yet heavy-handed, the film equivalent of spending two hours to look like you've 'just thrown something on'. Overall it's a film that's far less than the sum of its parts. By the end I positively despised it and I rate it accordingly. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 05/06/25 Full Review Dom B Wonderful acting - reminds me of some good French movies - I love the subtle interaction between the characters Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/25 Full Review Dallas H The story's presentation is mediocre, failing to reach the attainability of a profound statement and pulling together enough of its production elements that would alienate my attention as a viewer. My interpretation of the movie is a semi-biographical account that wants to swim in the deep end of the pool of emotional feelings and intellectual thought. Still, it hasn't been fully developed yet and can only reach the waist-high end of the swimming pool. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/20/24 Full Review R S Id rather watch Mr. Bean. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 06/27/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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