UNICORN STORE
US, 2017, 92 minutes, Colour.
Brie Larson, Samuel L.Jackson, Joan Cusack, Bradley Whitford, Mamoudou Athie, Hamish Linklater.
Directed by Brie Larson.
For audiences who enjoy films which have the light, even the lightest, of touches, enjoy contemporary fairytales which turn out to be fables, lessons about growing up.
After Room and her Oscar, Brie Larson began to build up a career which led to her becoming Captain Marvel. However, here is a small film which she directed in 2017. She plays the central character, a childlike woman (and we have seen home movies of her as a little girl, growing up, her art and imagination). Her great desire is to have a unicorn as companion, moving beyond the imaginary unicorn of her childhood.
When she decides to go out to work, she receives an invitation to a mysterious while Store and is introduced to The Salesman. While Samuel L.Jackson is genial, his performance is rather crazy in manner, talk, eccentric clothes and even more eccentric hairstyle.
In the background are Kit’s parents, sensible workers, Joan Cusack and Bradley Whitford. Also significant in her life is Virgil, handymen, a sympathetic listener, building her a stable for her hoped-for unicorn Mamoudou Athie, the journalist in The Front Runner.
Those who want something light for their entertainment might try this – although many may find the story and the treatment too twee.
1. Fairytale – with many fairytale touches? Reality and fantasy?
2. The home movies and the setting, Kit as a baby, child, artwork, growing up? As a young adult, painting, the rainbow colours, the gold dust? The transition to the competition, the judges, her failing? Her disappointment, in her bedroom, watching TV, sullen? Her relationship with her parents, jovial, encouraging, their work?
3. Home scenes, office scenes, the streets, the Unicorn Store, magic interiors? The building of the stable for the unicorn? Atmosphere? Musical score?
4. Kit, growing up, a fantasy world, yet a sense of failure, low self-esteem? Watching the television, seeing the commercials about temporary positions, her decision to change, dressing and her mother’s suit, going to the office, the quick interrogation, working on the copying machine, her hand, Gary approaching her, chatting with her, inviting her out, praising her ingenuity? Her relationship with the others at work, meeting the young women, their being critical of her? Her defiance?
5. The cards and the invitations, her puzzle? Finding the Store? The encounter with the Salesman, discussions, his response to her, her wishes, confiding about the unicorn? His promise? The effect on her, wanting to build a stable, the recommendation for Virgil? His coming, friendship with him, the discussions, his promises, his abilities, the stable?
6. Kit and her fantasies, the discussions with her parents? The fantasy of the unicorn? Virgil and his doubts? The phone call, the Salesman, the invitation? Her confusion, yet deciding to go to the Store? The cheerful Salesman, her questioning his truth, the revelation of the unicorn, her conversation with the unicorn, the review of her life, the importance of the unicorn, talking to him, playing chess with him, his being her support?
7. Virgil arriving, the Salesman, the Listening to Kit, a change of heart, giving up, willing to give the unicorn to someone else in need? Her happiness? Leaving with Virgil, hand in hand? The encounter with the troubled woman wanting the store?
8. Virgil and his personality, the building of the stable, the decorating it with so much of Kit’s art?
9. A contemporary fairytale, a fable about facing the reality and growing up?
