A Universal Picture, Written and Directed By Miranda July.
Two con artists, Robert (Richard Jenkins) and Theresa (Debra Winger), have spent 26 years training their only daughter, Old Dolio (Evan Rachel Wood), to swindle, scam and steal at every turn. During a desperate and hastily conceived heist, they charm a stranger, Melanie (Gina Rodriguez) into joining them, only to have their entire world turned upside down. The film comes from the mind of indie film darling Miranda July and was one I was able to see at the BFI London Film Festival in October.
Kajillionaire (2020) is a complete mixture of all sorts of genres, into one melting pot that Miranda July chooses to play with. We are immediately shown the strange dynamic between the central characters and the unique way (small time heists) that they make ends meet and survive. They are all very eccentric in their own way, particularly Old Dolio with her deep voice, expressionless face and lack of social skills, and it is this fascinating mix of eccentric and larger than life characters in an ordinary setting and world that really makes the film stand out, and will remind some film fans of the works of directors like Wes Anderson, but very much with July’s unique spin on it.
Throughout the heists and comedic situations of the film, one dark thing reveals itself and it is that the parents have exploited Old Dolio and gaslit her for her entire life so that they can use her to their own financial gain, and maintain a control over everything she does – “Most people wanna be kajillionaires, that’s how they get you hooked”. This mistreatment is carefully laid out, and no scene reveals their true selves more than the disturbing scene where they are in an old man’s house and are simply sat waiting for him to die so they can take his belongings. There is real payoff in the end for this story and it is the dramatic through line.
As for the performances, all four cast members deliver in a big way. Jenkins and Winger, two seasoned character actors with a wide range of experience, have real fun playing these people who are charming, engaging and also deeply abusive, and using the likable persona of its actors to mask the abuse of their daughter that is happening. Evan Rachel Wood is the focal point of the film as Old Dolio, and she totally commits, with a remarkably physical performance. She barely speaks (and when she does it is in an uncharacteristically deep and gruff tone), she clearly has very limited social skills due to her sheltered upbringing, and she has a unique posture and physicality to her that looks freakish and visually compelling. However, the standout of the film for me is Gina Rodriguez, an actress I have never found particularly compelling but here is an absolute bolt of energy and is just the presence the film needs. She has great chemistry with all the cast, and as soon as she enters the film, you miss her when she isn’t on screen.
The big surprise in the film, and the thing that quickly becomes the most compelling and satisfying part, is the romance between Old Dolio and Melanie. It occurs totally naturally, there is no mention of either of them questioning their sexuality, they are just two people from incredibly different worlds who find comfort, romance and solace in each other. Wood and Rodriguez have simmering chemistry together, and are also genuinely sweet, and in the second half it adds the heart that the film really needs. The way the ending of the film plays out between them is moving and very fitting for the story that was told.
Overall, it is very clear that this film will not be for everyone, and there were times throughout where I questioned if it was for me too. But the strong final third, the character progression, the unique creative voice of Miranda July and some really impressive performance mean that Kajillionaire is a film really worth checking out.
Rating = 3.5/5
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