If you have the opportunity to watch or if you get the chance to watch the Ruth Wilson-led (Oslo, Showtime’s The Affair) True Things, pay particular attention to the film’s opening and closing scenes. There is considerable symbolism at the two ends, almost leveling us back even after going up and down several peaks and valleys in Harry Wootliff’s (Only You) heavy romantic drama.
True Things currently sits on Rotten Tomatoes with an 80% critics score but just a 33% audience score. I can see why it might not resonate with filmgoers, but just one out of three giving the film a positive rating seems pretty low. True Things cuts deep. Perhaps those who didn’t favor this movie didn’t want to believe that some of its guiding principles were true. Maybe they felt all too real in one of their previous or current relationships.
I wonder if having seen Showtime’s The Affair helped or hindered my viewing of True Things. Portraying the character of Alison for four seasons didn’t necessarily typecast Wilson. However, her portrayal of Kate did feel like an extension of Alison. In True Things, Kate’s job is as a benefit claims officer. More often than not, she’s receiving the brunt of angry people lined up in a DMV-type work environment, informing people that they lack the necessary paperwork to receive benefits from various claims. She passes her breaks by obviously scrolling through hookup dating apps, such as Tinder, perhaps looking for a relationship or maybe just a fling. Or maybe she’s looking for someone who can be ‘just enough,’ who wants her and can provide for her, allowing her to pursue her passions rather than her vocation. She was frequently late to or absent from work, offering her boss a slew of excuses as reasons. She’s on the cusp of getting fired, which reflects poorly on her friend, Alison (Hayley Squires – I, Daniel Blake), who initially got her the job.
A man (Tom Burke –The Souvenir, Mank) fresh out of prison shows up at her workstation as if on cue. We never learn his name, but we see her add him as a contact on her phone as Blonde because of his dyed blonde hair. He has a jaunty smile, and the way he looks at her has a certain allure that attracts Kate. The flirtation is mutual (Kate doesn’t seem to be able to divide the line between work and pleasure fully). Is the Mr. Right she’s been waiting for, or is he the Mr. Right now that she’s been waiting for? Regardless, Blonde is waiting for Kate outside after work. Within minutes, they are having sex against a wall in her organization’s parking garage.
Though not explicitly stated, there are hints that Kate suffers from mental illness. She displays the characteristics of someone who might have an undiagnosed Bipolar I condition, which Wootliff eludes.
Depressive Symptoms Displayed by Kate
- Feelings of hopelessness, lack of energy, loss of interest in everyday activities, feelings of emptiness, pessimism, self-doubt
Manic Symptoms Displayed by Kate
- Feelings of elation, feeling full of great new ideas, impractical view of the future, rash decision-making, bouncing between thoughts, behaving in a way that could lead to disastrous consequences, hypersexuality, substance abuse,
But above all else, Kate was lonely and searching for companionship. She wanted those butterfly-type feelings we all experience when we meet someone new romantically. Whether this could parlay into something long-term with Blonde, she was all in on the immediate high. Blonde sensed this immediately and used this to his advantage, manipulating Kate at every opportunity, telling her how much he desires her one moment, only to rebuke her talk about a future together the next. She was infatuated with this enigmatic man with a mysterious past, so much so that she was willing to overlook or justify the times when he hurt her. Kate ignored Alison’s advice about company policy about fraternizing with a customer outside of work and pointing out how he used her for his gain.
To her credit, Wilson conveys Kate with both a distinct sadness and awareness of the truth of what is happening, but one in which she still feels in control of her situation. What others might verbalize, Kate showcases in nonverbal cues and manners. She is neither a tragic hero nor a character. Kate is just Kate, a woman doing her best to find a steady stream of happiness that too often takes her from mania to depression. Her support network is small, but some people care about her, namely Alison and her parents, who, unfortunately, are not introduced until much too late into our story, resulting in their appearance feeling forced upon us just so we can know that they have been a part of her inner circle throughout her life, despite the struggles she faces, that those without mental illness might not need.
We are with Kate for the entirety of the film, more often than not, in the first-person type of lens. It’s a form of personal intimacy we haven’t had in many 2022-released movies. As a result, there is certain obscurity in everything Kate sees as she strives to sort out right from wrong, good from bad, truth from lies, and ways she can better balance her highs and lows and be both a productive member of society and someone who can offer value and reciprocity in her relationships.
Plot 9/10
Character Development 9/10
Character Chemistry 9.5/10
Acting 9/10
Screenplay 8/10
Directing 7.5/10 (the timeline was a little challenging to follow at times…in some films, this isn’t a huge deal…in this one, in which our characters are evolving based on their interactions with one another…at one point, what I thought had been a day between interactions had been a week)
Cinematography 10/10 (perfect…so much from Kate’s first-person perspective with us viewing her world with the same murkiness as her)
Sound 8/10
Hook and Reel 9/10 (I was never bored and enjoyed the movie the more we got to know each character)
Universal Relevance 9/10 (I think we can all relate or could envision a scenario in which we could relate)
89%
Movies You Might Like If You Liked This Movie
- Blue Valentine
- Marriage Story
- Eyes Wide Shut
- Two Lovers
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind