I Saw the TV Glow
I Saw the TV Glow is playing in theaters at the time of writing. Directed by Jane Shoenbrun. Rated PG-13. Common Sense says 13+.
Two teenage loners, Owen (Justice Smith) and Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine), bond over the supernatural TV show, The Pink Opaque. One day, they decide to run away from their small town, using the show as their guide.
STORY: B
A slow moving but captivating, creative allegory.
If you’re a seasoned soccer fan, you’ve probably sat through many a game that ended up a 0-0 draw. Sure, some nil-nil games are pretty boring, but a lot of them can wind up being flat-out riveting.
If it were a soccer match, I Saw the TV Glow would be the latter. Its plot points lack intensity, but there are few, if any, dull moments. And its supernatural interpretation of learning to live with your identity is gripping.
THE SCOOP: Check out I Saw the TV Glow’s IMDb page, here.
PEOPLE: C
These depressed teenagers aren’t flashy, but they do feel authentic.
Authentic performances lead to authentic films, but they don’t always lead to memorable performances. Perhaps director Jane Schoenbrun feels the actors’ realistic interpretations were necessary, working as the anchor that keeps us tethered to this overly fantastical story.
CAST PARTY: Check out IndieWire’s interview from Sundance with the cast and director, here. (3 mins)
FILM NERD STUFF: B+
The glittery, neon 90’s canvas lights up our eyes and our brains’ nostalgic centers.
The film is always fun to look at. Whether it’s the hot pastels or the delicious depictions of fictional 90’s TV, our eyes (and therefore, our attention) never wander.
BEHIND THE SCENES: Check out A24’s official featurette about the film, here.
ELECTIVE CLASS (Art Will See You Now): A-
The film is an eerie, enchanting meditation about on-screen representation.
Have you ever needed a friend to point out something about you before you became aware of it? Uh, you know you chew with your mouth open, right? You could totally be going out with him if you just stopped your self-sabotaging! We’re often “too close” to see ourselves as we actually are.
TV shows ( and movies) can often act as that friend, steering us toward new levels of self-awareness. Buffy (you know, the vampire slayer) was that observant buddy for countless gay and trans teenagers in the 90’s.
I Saw the TV Glow will, I hope, be one for this next generation.
FINAL COMMENT:
Not all of us align with the white picket fence, “correct” families we see on our screens. Jane Schoenbrun has made a fantastic film intended to speak to those navigating their identity. It’s bizarre, occasionally disturbing, but always tender.
It’s that tenderness, along with a whole heap of bold filmmaking, that also makes the film accessible for those who won’t, can’t, or don’t care to pick up on its themes of identity.