THE PERFECTION

This, 2019, 90 minutes, Colour.

Alison Williams, Logan Browning, Steven Webber, Alaina Hoffman.

Directed by Richard Shepard.

By the end of The Perfection, the audience knows that it is been through quite an ordeal with the two central characters. And not in any anticipated way.

Interest in the film will depend on identification or not with these two central characters, Charlotte, Alison Williams, a talented cello player, her training interrupted by her having to look after your mother for 10 years, Lizzie, Logan Browning, a talented cello player who has had a successful career. After her mother’s death, Charlotte makes contact again and meet patrons and teachers at a recital in Shanghai where Lizzie is to be a judge of a competition. The film sets up the relation between the two.

There are glimpses of the Chinese countryside as the two go on an economy bus ride, Lizzie becoming very ill, Charlotte caring for her, this is linked with an outbreak in China (the film coming out a year before Covid!), leading to drastic action to help Lizzie.

Then quite an unexpected twist, a rewind, a different interpretation as to what happened.

Then, back in Boston, Lizzie made unwelcome because of her being unable to play the cello, Lizzie deciding to wreak revenge on Charlotte and abducting her and bringing her to Boston. Then, another rewind and different interpretation.

Which leads to something of Grande Guignol, Gothic horror ending.

The screenplay certainly keeps the attention with its twists, the experiences of the characters, revelations at the end, and the condemnation of exploitation of vulnerable children.

1. Psychological drama, becoming a horror drama?
2. The world of music, the Institute in Boston, the heritage from the 1920s, cello? The students, the staff, Anton presiding, his kingdom, his ancestors? The return after Shanghai, inside the building, more sinister?
3. The musical score, the performances, the cello?
4. The introduction to Charlotte, the close-up of her dead mother, her sitting in the chair, indications of memory, attempted suicide, the institution? 10 years of care for her mother? The flashbacks to leaving the cello Institute, the sighting of Lizzie on the stairs? The aftermath of her mother’s death? Reaching out to Anton and Paloma?
5. Shanghai, the vistas of the city, atmosphere, the competition, performances, socials? Anton presiding? Welcoming Charlotte? The young girls, the scholarship, Lizzie as judge, meeting Charlotte, her admiration, Charlotte’s devotion to Lizzie and her career? Charlotte as judge? The gossip during the recital, the parents and the affair, giggling, the celebration, dancing, the mention of the disease in China, the man collapsing?
6. The attraction between the two, the sexual encounter, the aftermath? With Lizzie inviting Charlotte to go on the holiday? The hangover? The medication? The rough bus, Lizzie unwell, determined to go, the journey, being sick, the appeal to the bus driver, his refusal, the helpful young man, the passengers giving the water? Out of the bus, continuing the journey, ousted? The walk to the town, Lizzie, unwell, the vomiting, the bugs, the manifestations on her arm, Charlotte offering the cleaver, her cutting off her arm?
7. After horror aspects, the rewind, the different interpretation, Charlotte and the hallucination medication, supporting Lizzie but actually making her worse, speculation about Charlotte and her motivation?
8. Lizzie, the return to the Institute, the amputated hand? Anton and Paloma, rejecting her? Her motivation, revenge, going to Minnesota, the confrontation with Charlotte, abducting her, taking her to the Institute, in the car boot? Anton and his response, Charlotte and jealousy? Her being tied up, too close a piece, her not being allowed to make a mistake, otherwise punishment?
9. The next generation, the Chinese girl, her mother, shone around, the hopes and promises?
10. The revelation about Anton, the two men on the staff, Paloma, the use of sexual abuse, punishments, the flashbacks?
11. The rewind, Charlotte and her motivation to bring Lizzie to her senses, acknowledge the truth, their planning together, poisoning the two men, stabbing Paloma, confronting Anton?
12. The brutality of the stabbing and hacking attack on Anton?
13. The finale, the two playing the cello, Anton mutilated, retribution?