Happiness feels good, but at what sacrifice as this this unusual, thought provoking movie Little Joe suggests. It is a slow paced film yet compensated by way of constant mental stimulation on the what-if’s. I found myself wondering that maybe we all need to smell the roses and maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing to be entrapped, given society today. Maybe anti-depressants could be a thing of the past, replaced by a multiple of Little Joe’s. Happiness is a business after all.
In the real world we can’t seem to escape the concept of viruses and Little Joe would tell you it could be the real world and they are not a virus but a plant that really needs love to consequently make people feel happy.
One can almost guarantee that European produced films will present unusual stories or twists. This Austria-UK-Germany production company has given us another, a modern sci-fi account to ponder over since it’s filming on location in Austria and the UK.
The Story
All seems to be going well for single mother Alice, a dedicated senior plant breeder for a corporation engaged in developing new species.
Alice is clever and has engineered a very special crimson flower, remarkable not only for its beauty but also for its therapeutic value. If kept at the ideal temperature, fed properly and spoken to regularly, this plant makes its owner happy. These are definitely a special breed.
Against company policy, she takes one home as a gift for her teenage son Joe and names it Little Joe after him. But as it grows, so too does Alice become suspicious of her new creation and feels that her new child may not be as harmless as first thought and soon starts fearing it.
Be careful to listen to the whisper at the end!
Cast & Production
Written by: Jessica Hausner and Geraldine Bajard
Director: Jessica Hausner
Executive Producers: Rose Garnett, Mary Burke, Vincent Gadelle, Marina Perales Marhuenda, Michel Merkt
Director of Photography: Martin Gschlacht
Main actors: Emily Beecham (Festival de Cannes-Best Actress), Ben Whishaw, Kerry Fox
IN SELECT CINEMAS JULY 1:
Cinema Nova – Melbourne
Dendy Newtown – Sydney
Dendy Canberra – Canberra
Five Star Cinemas, New Farm – Brisbane
Ruth Greening holds a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology & Philosophy. Before retirement, she worked for over 40 years in the corporate world in Melbourne and Brisbane and progressed into senior management positions and project roles for both private industry and government.
In her 70’s, she continues in casual roles as a freelance writer, model, and actor participating in small movies, TV commercials and User Generated Content.
As a grandmother, she is known as Nanny Babe to her grandchildren and writes from a Baby Boomer perspective on her blog www.nannybabe.com. An avid crafter Ruth actively participates in sewing, crocheting and knitting.
While she continues to pursue her artistic passions, Ruth is dedicated to maintaining her health and fitness as she ages by attending the gym, dancing and walking and thrives on mentoring others.
Connect with Ruth or our moniker Nanny Babe; nannybabegengp.blogspot.com.au/
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