The Souvenir Part II carries on from director Joanna Hogg’s semi-autobiographical film The Souvenir (2019), an account of her own experiences at film school and her destructive relationship with an older man, Anthony (Tom Burke), a manipulative heroin-addict.
Whilst the first film captured the chaotic, toxicity of the relationship, the second deals with the aftermath. Following his death she is left with time to self-reflect and analyse her situation.
It’s a well constructed and more focused film than the first, the narrative well paced and the characters fully rounded. It could also be Hogg’s most accessible project so far.
Film student Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne) is fragile, lacking in self-esteem and generally a bit lost. The scenes when she’s at film school, attempting to direct her graduation film, highlight her indecision and self-doubt. Clearly not in a directorial head-space she unavailingly tries to steer her graduation film forward, much to the exasperation of the rest of her crew.
The casting is spot on, resulting in strong, naturalistic and nuanced performances. From the loving but glacial mother Rosalind (Tilda Swinton) to the pompous fellow film student Patrick (Richard Ayoade), they look and act the part superbly. Swinton Byrne gives a convincing portrayal of a young woman emotionally all at sea. Confused, unsure of herself and badly trying to work through her emotional pain via her work, she is met by the people in her sphere with varying degrees of patience, frustration, anger and sympathy. It is as much they who illustrate her condition.
There are times you just want to give Julie a kick up the backside, for being so drippy and wet, especially during the scenes where she struggles to lead the crew to direct her film. Lost, and literally lost for words, it’s infuriating to watch.
Alongside the linear narrative, Hogg also integrates theatrical, stylistically stagy and fantastical elements, occurring occasionally throughout the production and final screening of Julie’s film.
Giving the appearance of performance art, it fits with the spirit of Julie’s own artistic pretensions and abstract indecision, but also risks lightening the gravity of her state of mind. It was a successful but unnecessary distraction.
Full of life and heart, and genuine moments of joy, The Souvenir Part II is a personal and engaging film showing the messy, emotionally turbulent life of a bereaving student, struggling to come to terms with her life and work, merging the two into an indistinguishable existence. A fine portrait of an artist by Hogg.
Strong, naturalistic and nuanced performances
Movie title: The Souvenir Part II
Movie description: Semi-autobiographical study of a young film student dealing with the aftermath of a turbulent relationship.
Date published: February 4, 2022
Country: United Kingdom
Duration: 147 minutes
Director(s): Joanna Hogg
Actor(s): Honor Swinton Byrne , Tilda Swinton , Richard Ayoade , Jaygann Ayeh
Genre: Drama, Romance
Thomas is a musician, writer and film enthusiast with a broad taste in films, from Big Night to The Big Combo. When he isn’t immersed in these activities his passions extend to the kitchen and food.
