In which Atom Egoyan concocts an elaborate setup for himself to be cucked by a guy who looks like Marc Maron, so as to expertly reflect on themes of diaspora and estrangement from heritage, white western detachment and tourism, language barriers, masculine fragility, relationship sabotage…so much to take in during its all too brief 73 minutes. I went into Calendar expecting a detour from Egoyan’s usual explorations of kink, only to find him utilize scene repetition - in a way that would make Jim Jarmusch proud - as a means of playing out perhaps the wildest of kinks I’ve seen him explore yet. The film offers a literal play-by-play of how someone can actually end up pushing their partner into another’s arms, to such an achingly relatable extent that it had me wondering, “Fuck, have I ever been this guy? Have I dated this guy?” And the way that theme ties into the cinematic notion of a newly opened up Armenia - free to explore, and to ponder as a place, a birthright, a well of heritage - is just stunning. The mixture of mediums - actual film representing a perspective (the character Egoyan’s perspective), rewound video representing a thing (a tangible souvenir from the journey) - works incredibly well and grants him the opportunity to, as always, say so much with so few words. The paid (?) wine date sequences are delightful, horribly awkward, and so interesting. The usage of early 90s mediocre white blues rock is a hilarious touch. And the “date” who describes herself as an “oriental dancer” is maybe possibly the hottest person I’ve ever seen in my life, and was also, incidentally, the only “date” to turn over the watchful eye necklace during her phone call. This was my first new movie viewing of age 39, and a great watch to start a new year. I’ve now seen just about a third of Atom’s features, and he keeps getting better and better. “Why can’t you refer to our history of each other? Why can’t you tell him what you know I would think? You make me feel like a stranger. You make me believe that my answers are disappointing you. That I’m disappointing you.”Atom Egoyan: Fave To Least Fave
