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'Showing Up' (2023)

Directed by Kelly Reichardt



Kelly Reichardt's latest film is another suitably quiet one about quiet people. Michelle Williams is superb as the rather grumpy daughter Lizzy, who dresses like a 75 year old woman, lives alone and makes sculptures in her spare time when she's not working at the Portland art school run by her mother.

Her father, divorced from her mother is a bluffing old former potter who lives on past glories, that are mostly unfounded. Her brother Sean is a manic depressive and unemployed. Her landlord Jo, is also an artist and cares more about her exhibition and social life than fixing the hot water in Lizzy’s apartment.

Lizzy may be grumpy, cantankerous and awkward but throughout the film she’s the only character that seems to have a caring nature. She cares for an injured pigeon, she cares about the whereabouts of her brother when he goes out and she cares about her dad (and worries the sponging, freeloading grifter couple who have seemingly squatter in her father’s house – who provide most of the comedic moments in the film).

At it’s heart the film is about art versus nature and how they intertwine via the human element. There are symbols here to be discovered concerning Lizzy’s sculptures, caring and the injured pigeon. The end scene is one of the most beautiful of the year which doesn’t need spoiling.

Michelle Williams is a brilliant actress and Kelly Reichardt is a brilliant director.