"Foe" -- Movie Review

 

On the opening weekend of the 61^st New York Film Festival, I attended the World Premiere of the new science-fiction drama, “Foe” starring Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal.

Synopsis

When climate change forces the government to recruit people to help save the planet, will this threaten a couple’s marriage?

Story

In the year 2065, Henrietta and Junior (Ronan and Mescal) live in a ramshackle farm somewhere in the midwestern portion of the United States.  Due to years – decades, in fact – of climate change, the farm’s land has turned arid.  Unable to grow any crops for either themselves or to sell to others, they are food insecure.  Miles from any neighbors, a mysterious stranger pulls up in a car – Terrance (Aaron Pierre), who claims to work for the United States government, coming to check up on the couple in order to see how they are doing.  After inviting him into their home, Terrence proposes something that may change the couple’s life forever.

Terrence reveals that for the past few years, the government has been conducting experiments in outer space where they have set up something akin to a farming community where crops can be grown; if this experiment succeeds, they may have just found a way to end hunger in the United States and possibly the rest of the world, as well.  He’s sharing this information with the couple because the government believes Junior can be of some assistance, given his background in farming – the only problem is that Junior would have to spend an inordinate amount of time in space. 

Neither Henrietta nor Junior are crazy about this idea; for one thing, Henrietta would be left alone on the farm indefinitely.  Junior, despite his farming skills, doesn’t want to leave his wife for an extended period, nor does he wish to be in outer space working alongside a bunch of strangers.  Politely but firmly, the couple decline Terrance’s offer.  But there’s a catch – Junior doesn’t have that option; basically, the government has drafted him, whether he wants to go or not.  Terrance gives the couple a little time to get used to the idea and prepare to say goodbye; during that time, their already unsteady marriage begins to wear thin.  When Junior finally leaves for his mission, what will Henrietta do?

Review

It serves no one any good to mince words when it comes to “Foe”, so let’s just get it out there:  This is an absolutely dreadful movie.  Too bad, because Ronan and Mescal are two of our great acting talents currently working (Ronan has been a favorite of mine ever since “Brooklyn”).  The film suffers from a great many problems, including a second act which just drags on, seemingly going nowhere.  Also, the story itself is rather convoluted; the filmmaker seems to be counting on a surprise twist ending which will save the motion picture, but even that’s a little confusing.  There are better ways for you to spend two hours (although it certainly does feel much longer than that) than by watching “Foe”. 

The story also begs the question of exactly who is the foe in the first place?  Ronan’s character is certainly sympathetic, Mescal’s less so – and the government official, well, he’s just a mechanism to get the plot moving along (to the extent that it does, but there can definitely be an argument made to the opposite).  Mescal’s Junior acts like something of a jerk throughout, making it somewhat difficult to root for him with his brutish behavior.  The filmmaker does an excellent job of concealing whatever good qualities that character may have, if any.  Again, the ending seems intended to redeem him, but it doesn’t quite. 

Director Garth Davis was interviewed after the screening.  He said that the tension coming from the climate change is only matched by the tension currently being experienced in the couple’s marriage.  What was Henrietta looking for in their relationship?  Over time, Junior lost any sense of spontaneity and an ability to change.  She is trapped in her marriage because she’s trying to hold onto her past.  Davis collaborated on the script with the author who wrote the novel on which it is based; they spent three days in Los Angeles asking and answering questions about the story and about the couple, as well.  Although the film is set in the midwestern part of the United States, it was actually shot in Australia.