PICK-ME-UP is playing at SBIFF (Santa Barbara International Film Festival), and I had the opportunity to see an early look. Here’s my spoiler-free take:
Paul Thomas Anderson talks less about plots in movies and more about how they make us “feel.” With the short film PICK-ME-UP, I was less interested in the plot and more captivated by how it made me feel. To be honest, I’m still not quite sure what the overall plot was (aside from a high school reunion and a mom/daughter relationship). However, what I felt was Annelise’s (Birgitte Fjeld Bjørsvik) missed opportunities at romance and her mom’s missed chances to live still.
Guro Ekornholmen directs the film. They use a minimalist approach, with the actors and a handheld camera, allowing audiences into the circle of a high school reunion, with all the alcohol and making up for lost time. The script features beautifully written dialogue by Anniken Fjesme. My favorite moments are the subtitles she suggests. Like the abstract way a diamond breaks off a chandelier at the start, and the dialogue and relationship between Annelise and her mother.
Final Thought: PICK-ME-UP is a short that will make you feel sad about the passage of time and in love with the time you still have left. It’s a reminder to dance, and maybe, just maybe, take off your bra occasionally.
PICK-ME-UP premiered at SBIFF on Wed 2/11 – 5:20 PM
