Kristen Stewart is stuck at home and hating it, just like the rest of us. But not all of us have the opportunity to channel that anxiety and discomfort into a short film for Netflix.
The streaming service’s collection of short films, Homemade debuted today and consists of 17 films, all 11 minutes or less. All are made by filmmakers or actors during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, either from their own homes, with the use of video chat, or in a socially-distanced manner. It’s a fascinating mix of sincere and intimate, lighthearted and playful, and existential and haunting. The series was created by Lorenzo Mieli, Juan de Dios Larrain, and Pablo Larrain, the latter of whom is set to direct Stewart in Spencer, a movie about Princess Diana. While Larrain’s short film in the series is a delightful love story with a twist, Stewart’s film is more of the serious, intimate variety, filmed in her home in Los Angeles in May 2020.
Episode 14 of Homemade—written by, directed by, and starring Stewart—is about a girl who is stuck at home, suffering from insomnia, and on the verge of mental breakdown. She sits on her balcony and stares out at the Los Angeles skyline, mumbling to herself that she needs a break. But as soon as she closes her eyes to sleep, another girl (played by Dylan Meyer, Stewart’s girlfriend) asks her, “Are you sleeping?” Then she asks, “Did you get some work done today?” And then, a few tortured jump cuts later, “You should try to get some sleep tonight.”
Stewart resents that advice, as anyone who has struggled with insomnia, anxiety, and depression no doubt relates to. “Just drink some herbal tea, get some exercise, try meditating, count backward from 100, maybe that’ll help,” snaps Stewart. Meanwhile, she’s haunted by the noises of crickets that won’t let her sleep, which probably represents her brain which won’t shut off.
In the press notes for the collection, Stewart had the following to say: “Art that is born of restriction has a way of becoming itself in a surprising and cosmic sort of way and short films by nature don’t have to abide by any rules which really opens up the idea of what a movie can do. I was so grateful for and liberated by this idea. It was a huge gift to be encouraged to make something out of this strange nothingness. I hope this series inspires people to do the same.”
If you ever went to a student film screening in college, you’ve probably seen this short film before: jump cuts, not-so-great sound, existential mumblings, and a plot that’s not really a plot. Still, Stewart is an incredible actress, and you can see every micro-expression on her face in the extreme close-ups. It’s a great showcase of her talent, and a smart move on Stewart’s part to highlight that, even if there’s not much else there. Plus, the film clearly comes from the heart, and it’s hard not to relate to Stewart when we’re all going a little crazy in quarantine, too. But do check out Larrain’s film (Episode 4) as well for a little pick-me-up after you watch Stewart’s short. Not all quarantine art has to be about despair!
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July 01, 2020 at 01:33AM
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Kristen Stewart’s 'Homemade' Short on Netflix Is a Masterclass in Micro-Expressions - Decider
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