The Future
Dir: Miranda July
2011
*****
Miranda July's quirky comedy The Future is a representation of the apprehension of responsibility and the subconscious realisation that maturity is long over due. In simple terms it is a whimsical and self-aware thirty-something comedy-drama but also so much more than that. As well as a writer/director, July is also a performance artist and performance art plays a bit part in The Future. The story is subjective to a point but the unique humour binds the production together rather well and it never alienates the audience. July really does hit the mark though in her observations of a childless adult in their mid-thirties. It's an old story and a rather boring one at that, so she has cleverly written in ideas such as the ability to stop time and to have the whole film narrated to us by a Cat. The Cat in question is the heart of the story. July plays Sophie, a lady in her mid-thirties who lives with her boyfriend Jason who is of a similar age. Both lives (and their relationship) have begun to stagnate as they both try to find their way in the world, the idea of adopting an injured Cat seems like a good idea. This is where the apprehension of responsibility comes in and both lives seem to spiral out of control as the Cat (called Paw-Paw) excitedly but patiently waits for her new owners to pick her up. It's often surreal but it definitely hit home in many respects. It is both funny and tender and uniquely special.