CHRONIC

US/Mexico, 2015, 93 minutes, Colour.
Tim Roth, Robin Bartlett, Michael Christofer, Sarah Sutherland, Rachel Pickup.
Directed by Michel Franco.

Chronic won the screenplay award at the Cannes film Festival in 2015. It was written by the director, Mexican, Michel Franco. He brings a Hispanic perspective to his California story.

The focus of the film is a skilled nurse, played by Tim Roth. We see him tending a sick woman, Sarah, carefully washing her, dressing her, preparing her for the visit of her family. He tends to identify with her and the family. After her funeral, he takes on another patient, John, an architect played by Michael Christofer, playwright and screenwriter. John is cantankerous, but enjoys David’s company and care, ousting his own family. He is an architect and David goes to see some of his homes, passing himself off as an architect. John watches pornography on his computer and when a nephew sees David washing his uncle, he objects and the family sues David for sexual harassment.

When David loses his job, he goes to see the head of the agency and takes on a new patient, an older woman who is undergoing chemotherapy. They become friends, he cleaning her in embarrassing situations, when she soils herself, and she comes to rely on him but wanting him to assist her in her death. When he declines, she sends him away.

In the meantime, the audience learns more about David, his family, the death of his child, his work as a nurse – and then there is a sudden and shocking ending which precludes any speculation about the future.

1. An American story, California story? The director, Mexico and his perspective? Hispanic? The screenplay award at Cannes?

2. Los Angeles, homes, hospitals, the streets, jogging, the gym…? The musical score?

3. The single static shots, long, no movement except for the driving and for jogging? The static and contemplative effect?

4. David, his character, gradually revealed, his wife, his child, disability, care, the death? Divorce? Nadia, the friendship, the Facebook search and her photos? Her re-appearance and renewing friendship with David?

5. David, his nursing skills, work for the agency, the detail of his washing and tending to Sarah, her personality, passive, ill, response, the relatives and their visit, the funeral, his identifying with the family? The woman offering him a lift and asking questions?

6. John as a patient, his background as an architect, the stroke, David and his visit, care for John, John and cantankerous with his wife, the family, ousting them? Watching pornography on his computer? David and his fidelity, Sylvia and her nightshift, the substitute, David wanting to stay the night? Watching television with David? The reaction of the family? The nephew coming in when David was washing John, private parts, his reaction? The attack and sexual harassment? David visiting the home, not being welcome?

7. David identifying with the architecture, going to the bookshop, getting the books, going to visit the house, quoting John’s description of the houses, his tool?

8. Going back to the agency, the discussions with Oscar, meeting Martha, offering to work for her?

9. Martha, her personality, age, adult children? The tests, illness, the treatment? The friendship with Martha, the care, soiling herself, the shower? Her request that he assist in her death, his refusal, her anger, sending him away?

10. David, reconnecting with the past, wife, discussions, Nadia?

11. The question of David’s future, possibilities – and the shock ending of the crash and his death?