by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What constitutes a film? There has been a decent amount of debate on this in the past. There is the question of how long a piece of work needs to be, to be a film. There is a question of how much narrative fits into the definition of a film. One of the biggest controversies recently was Hamilton. Is a recording of a live performance worthy of the title of film? This can become even more gray if you look at films that utilize a closed set that look like a play. Or even something without a set, like Dogville. But don’t you worry, we have a brand new film to look at that might challenge your perception of what the limits of film are.
Just how much of an arthouse film is Remember This, the new effort from directors Derek Goldman and Jeff Hutchens? First off, the film is completely a one-man show. Beloved character actor David Strathairn holds the reins, as he plays out the whole tale himself. Then you have the film shot in all black and white. The set is basically just a few props and open space. Add all of this up and there is barely anything… but it works so well.
Structurally, how does this film even work out? It should be said that over the course of its 95-minute runtime, there will be moments that might struggle to keep you engaged. When the whole film is just watching one person performing for the audience, it will have some pacing issues at some point (trust me, I teach at the college, and it is hard to engage for that long with so little to work with). But this story is so incredible that it will be hard not to pay attention. Jan Kraski, the person Strathairn is playing, was such an impressive person, and his journey through the Holocaust and beyond is awe-inspiring. If anybody’s story would be told as a one-man show like this, it would only make sense that it would be such a heroic and courageous tale.
Is this story able to translate well to deliver some lasting and meaningful themes? Kraski’s story is full of courage. Without courage, he would never be able to escape a camp, lead resistance, and make a difference into the future. His undying morality is something to behold, as the Holocaust might be the single clearest case of good and evil we can look at. But the way this one man made such an impact, the film inspires us as the audience to realize something important. Few stories portray individual responsibility in such an impactful way.
But what is (or, who is) the glue? Strathairn. This performance is something else. When you can act for the entirety of a film, you are already doing something miraculous. But when you see such range and passion in a performance, that is a whole other level. Strathairn is charismatic and compelling onscreen. There are moments where he is powerful and pulls you in. There are others where he conveys emotion in a genuine and tender way. His performance is impressive. This film is destined to fly under the radar, but he deserves the attention.
With the final aspects accounted for, will Remember This be an arthouse film that will make an impact? The cinematography is gorgeous. The lighting is beautiful to look at, and creates such an impressive canvas for Strathairn’s work. But most importantly, Kraski’s story is too important and relevant for people to miss out on.
Score: 8/10
Remember This will be in theaters on January 27
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