This love story of sorts directed by Drake Doremus is largely improvised. The characters’ stories are subtle and the film becomes a voyeuristic view into their unravelling.
The cast and director held a Zoom chat during isolation discussing how each of the actors prepared and their anxieties over the mode of shoot.
Daphne (Shailene Woodley) is in the aftermath of a relationship breakup. Little is known as to the why until the last moments of the film, although some vague clues are given through periodic flashbacks. Returning home to her sister, Daphne has made the conscious decision to enjoy being single for a while, give up partying and the drinking; focus on herself to re-energise with some painting classes and a new part time job.
That resolution lasts all of five minutes, after she meets both Frank (Sebastian Stan) and reconnects with an old friend, Jack (Jamie Dornan) at the same party. Frank is edgy, nonchalant and their attraction to each other is instant. Daphne keeps her distance but soon weakens to his bad boy charm.
Jack on the other hand is solid, kind and in him, Daphne finds safety and comfort. Either unable to choose, or throwing her resolve to the wind, Daphne becomes deeply involved with both of them. The troubling factor is that Jack and Frank are the best of friends, and Daphne’s involvement with both of them, will ultimately prove fatal to their friendship. To Daphne however, she appears ambivalent to this and continues to see them both.
Endings, Beginnings is a moody film and loosely holds together. The use of music, muted tones of colour and the ever-present melancholic atmosphere make it the type of film to be sad with. Mobile text exchanges between characters are given an onscreen typographic treatment giving it an Instagram fashioned feel that will make it appeal to that demographic.
3 stars
Endings, Beginnings is available to rent now from Foxtel Store.
Available to rent on demand via Google Play, iTunes, Fetch TV, Telstra Bigpond, Sony (Playstation Network), Microsoft and Quickflix from 15 July 2020.
About Endings, Beginnings
Rated: MA
Running time: 110 minutes
Directed by Drake Doremus
Written by Drake Doremus and Jardine Libaire
Stars Shailene Woodley, Jamie Dornan, Sebastian Stan
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