Two films set in two countries examine in depth the links between a parent and a child
The parallels that can sometimes be drawn between the works of filmmakers from two different countries and cultural milieus are fascinating. In the center of Uberto Pasolinis Nothing special anywhere, in Northern Ireland and Pierre Monnard Needle Park Baby, based in Switzerland, is a single parent and relationship with a young child that both will lose.
In addition, the differences between these films, which were shown at the 25th Kerala International Film Festival in the World Cinema category, are huge. in the Nothing special anywhereJohn (James Norton), a window cleaner suffering from an incurable disease, has only a few weeks to live and is looking for a family that can adopt his four-year-old son Michael. in the Needle Park Baby11-year-old Mia is struggling hard to clean up her drug-addicted mother, Sandrine, but is nearing her breaking point.
Different longings
Both filmmakers go deep into the relationship between single parents and children. While John tries to gently make it clear to the child that he will not be around for long and is looking for the best possible family for his son, Sandrine repeatedly ignores her daughter, since her only concern is the source of her next heroin supply. At one point, she even sells her daughter’s little dog to buy heroin. On the other hand, we see John see the world of the wealthy through the windows he cleans, the piles of toys that have gathered in the rooms, and longs for his son.
A box for the future
Passolini and Monnard manage to move us without being overly dramatic. When the adoption agency suggests the idea of a memory box to John so that his song can form a picture of his father when he grows up, he initially scoffs at it. But later we see him packing sealed envelopes into a box containing letters that must be opened at every stage of Michael’s life. On top of the box he lays the windshield wiper he uses to clean the windows to get a complete picture of the father who dies young.
Child is the parent here
in the Needle Park BabyYoung Mia, mature beyond her age due to her circumstances, hopes her life will turn around every time her mother promises to get rid of drugs. With every disappointment she comforts herself with music and an imaginary friend and later with a group of friends who all come from difficult backgrounds. Here Mia often takes on the role of parent, repeatedly reprimanding her for breaking promises, and bringing her to safety when she gets into trouble. The single parents in both films have no support system and are alone apart from their interactions with the adoption agency and social security officials.
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