LONELY PLANET
US, 2024, 94 minutes, Colour.
Laura Dern, Liam Hemsworth, Diana Silvers.
Directed by Susannah Grant.
The title, Lonely Planet, will remind many audiences of the popular travel guides. And, the title is not entirely misleading – the action takes place ( until the end) in Morocco, offering something of a travelogue of Morocco itself, the mountains, lush areas, the deserts, the Mediterranean, Marrakesh… Audiences will feel as if they have been there (or will want to go there).
The occasion is a writer’s retreat, rather an extravagant occasion, world authors being invited by rich hosts to a luxury resort in the desert, there mainly being there to enjoy themselves, some mutual admiration, some harsh criticisms, and, it would seem now and again, some actual talk about writing and literature.
Popular American author, Katherine, has been invited by the host for some privacy for her own writing and some observing of the gathering. She is played by Laura Dern, successful, breaking from her partner, trying to finish a commission. By contrast, one of the guests is a young woman, Lily (Diana Silvers), her first success, swept up by the invitation, the glamour of the occasion, indulging in the enjoyment. Her partner has accompanied her, Owen (Liam Hemsworth), a businessman, more interested in sport than in literature, always on the phone, doing deals, and some shady implications about finance and environment.
The film is billed as something of a love story, older woman, younger man – and there have been a number of these films in recent years, May-December, A Perfect Couple, The Idea of You. But, this is not an immediate attraction and falling in love story. Rather, it is a story of meeting, some conversations, some sharing of stories, visits to Marrakesh. It is a friendship story, moving at a friendship pace, moving towards love.
But, neither is there any easy ending. There is a disaster for Katherine as her laptop is snatched by a passing thief, emotional crisis, taking it out on Owen.
Those who have become involved with the central characters will wonder as time passes. There have been developments in their lives…
- The title? The books on travel? This film as a travelogue, the beauties of Morocco? But individuals travelling on the lonely planet?
- The location photography, the variety of landscapes of Morocco, the mountains, the desert, the coast, Marrakesh, the towns? Atmosphere? The musical score?
- The situation, the retreat for writers, pampered writers, the location, the luxury, the rooms, meals, the excursions? The writers, their selection? Reputations? Discussions?
- Katherine’s story? Laura Dern’s presence? Age? Reputation as a writer? Her life’s devotion? The breakup of her partnership? Moving out, real estate agents and advertising? The invitation to come to Morocco, to observe the gathering, to do her own writing? Arriving, the welcome, the host, Hamid and his attentions? Keeping her privacy, the writing? The encounter with the writer from the past, his attention to her? Her avoiding it? The plan to go into the city, to write? Owen travelling with her?
- Owen and Lily, Lily and her first success, flattered to be invited, her response, with all the guests, Owen, supporting her, but feeling on the outside? The charade a game and his failure and humiliation? Going out on his own? His business interests, the continual phone calls, his frustration and going onto the roof, Katherine looking for the door? Situation, the deal, environmental issues, getting to his conscience, the phone calls, the owner, breaking the deal, resigning?
- The relationship between Katherine and Owen, the screenplay, not an immediate love story, rather a friendship story, discussions, shared interests, experiences in the town? The effect on Katherine, feeling supported, the conversations? The effect on own, the encounters with Lily, her being drunk, the breakup? The times with Katherine and the travels together?
- The growing intimacy, the effect on each of them, age, experience, literary background, sports background? Sitting on the wall, the sea, the snatching of the computer, no backup, Katherine and her desperation? Taking it out on Owen? Disappearance?
- Time passing, her new novel, the title from Owen’s description of the pass in football? The acclamation? The chance encounter, the conversation, parting – and returning? The value of the relationship, from friendship, to love and intimacy? The future?
