One of the big winners of this year’s SXSW is 6 Years, a Duplass Brothers production that was picked up by Netflix shortly after its first screening. While it didn’t win any awards, its quick pick-up by the streaming company drove interest in the film. While certainly not perfect, the film deserves the attention it received.
Written and directed by Hannah Fidell (A Teacher), the film centers on the relationship between Melanie (Taissa Farmiga, American Horror Story) and Dan (Ben Rosenfield, Boardwalk Empire). The two have been dating since high school and now Dan is about to graduate from college while Mel is still studying to be a teacher. Dan is ready to move out of Texas and take a job at a record label in New York City, but Mel wants to stay in Texas.
The film follows the ups and downs of the relationship, as they are constantly pestered by friends and co-workers about the length of it. So many can’t understand how they could stay together. At the same time, they are asking themselves that question as the relationship is put to the ultimate test when Dan sleeps with one of his superiors (Lindsay Burdge).
Fidell has a very kinetic, loose style that attempts to capture the film’s events as realistically as possible. Her camera is embedded in the action, constantly moving and shaking. She also loves using montages, slicing together parties in quick scenes that keep the film short.
But the looseness has its downside, as often the camera just seems to be “hanging out” with the characters, not driving the story forward. There is a lot of drinking in this film, to the point that you might wonder how everyone’s livers survived at the end. These partying scenes could serve to show how Mel and Dan are drifting apart, unbeknownst to themselves, or could just be there to slow the movie down.
6 Years deserves attention due to the lead performances. Farmiga and Rosenfield often improvised on the set, which only adds to the raw and emotionally wrenching tone of the film. They clearly understood Fidell’s intentions with these characters. Had they not, this film would have turned out very different.
Like most films that feature a relationship at a crossroad, 6 Years is a challenging work. You won’t leave the theater (or your couch) smiling, but it will leave you thinking about your own future. It's almost like a Blue Valentine for college kids, with a relationship as much a character as the characters themselves.
‘6 Years’ will be available on Netflix later this year.
image courtesy of SXSW