The 2012 romantic drama by Wes Anderson reminds viewers of a simpler kind of love.
Aside from being a weekly columnist for The Post, I am an amateur musician. I grew up playing the piano and, like every other hipster, I started teaching myself how to play the ukulele. And while I haven’t composed my masterpiece yet, I have done a little bit of research into what goes into making a song.
Somewhere along the line, someone explained to me that the purpose of a song, and much of art in general, is to capture the feeling and intensity of a moment and communicate it. I think this also stands true for Wes Anderson’s 2012 film, Moonrise Kingdom.
In short, Moonrise Kingdom is about the awkward but endearing romance between two very troubled twelve-year-olds. Sam Shakusky, played by Jared Gilman, is an “emotionally disturbed” orphan who is constantly dismissed by the other members of his Boy Scout-like Khaki Scout troop. He becomes enamored of Suzy Bishop, played by Kara Hayward, who also doesn’t quite belong because of her violent tendencies.
After mailing each other back and forth for a period of time, they both agree to abandon the society that has given up on them and escape to a little, forgotten coast near one of the most remote parts of the island for a few days. The movie is about them reconciling with the people that love them while, at the same time, accepting that only they can really understand each other.
There is something about the unsympathetic quaintness of the scenery and the somehow unsettling delivery of the actors’ lines that make Moonrise Kingdom seem both lifelike and completely unrealistic.
This movie delves into many uncomfortable topics like adultery, death, sycophantism and abandonment, however, it never really tries to make any big statements about these topics. Even though I could not relate to the violence or the overt awkwardness of the two protagonists of the film, I was able to resonate with the love they shared. Their passion was innocent and awkward to look at but it was a steady reminder of what once was.
This movie reminded me of when kissing was a big deal. It reminded me of the awkwardness of my first kiss — it is the literal embodiment of kissing my first boyfriend in the cafeteria while waiting for my mom to pick me up after school. I’m sure many of you have had similar experiences.
Anderson takes on the task of depicting the sexual discovery of two young people but he does so in a really quirky way. The color coordination of the sets paired with the questionable set of characters make for an interesting juxtaposition. The intertwining light and dark elements of the film made me think of Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as well as Edward Scissorhands.
The story feels as if it is being told through the eyes of an author, who is more inclined to communicate a scene through words, instead of a director, who is more inclined to communicate with scenes. If Roald Dahl directed Blue Lagoon, I feel like the product would look similar to Moonrise Kingdom.
I recommend this movie for anyone who is looking for a nice little artsy drama. Moonrise Kingdom is able to tell a more meaningful story in 90 minutes than just about any two hour flick I’ve ever seen. The young love story can resonate with many people on many levels, making it a must-see for all.
Kaitlyn McGarvey is a freshman studying journalism. Have you seen Moonrise Kingdom? Email her at km451814@ohio.edu or tweet @McGarveyKaitlyn.
