Joanna Hogg tells the story of a young artist’s maturity with an airtight structure and incredible performances.
“Show, don’t tell.” That’s the advice given to countless aspiring writers and filmmakers. But how far can you get showing without showing? There’s a scene around the mid-point of Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir that breaks down this approach: protagonist Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne) and her class of film students are discussing Psycho, specifically the iconic shower scene. The class agrees: we never exactly see Norman Bates stab Marion Crane, but the collection of images – expertly edited together – clearly convey the idea. Showing, without showing.
The Souvenir as a whole follows similar stylistic guidelines. This is Julie’s story, a portrait of an artist as a young woman, but it’s told with unprecedented levels of restraint. Hogg’s approach is frequently slow and stiff, yet as a whole, the film is absolutely airtight. She favors wide-shots and slow zooms, her camera usually still and stationary, her compositions often obscuring the faces of her subjects. We’re left to sit with these images and all they imply.
This method also distinguishes the film from its closest points of comparison. Set in Thatcher’s England, Julie’s far from the first privileged young person in a movie who’s determined to make relevant and insightful art (see: Preston Sturges’ Sullivan’s Travels or the Coen’s Barton Fink). But she’s got far more pressing problems in the form of Tom Burke’s Anthony, an older suitor with a habitual heroin problem. His addiction breeds dangerous codependency, a void that Julie must eventually claw her way out of.
This is Honor Swinton Byrne’s first performance, and it’s a debut for the ages.
Anthony’s arrogant and insufferable (to say the least) – which just makes him even more interesting to Julie. Burke’s fantastic here – but then again, the same can be said of everyone in the cast. This is Honor Swinton Byrne’s first performance, and it’s a debut for the ages. She effortlessly infuses Julie with deep pathos, balancing her naiveté with an endearing curiosity and a genuine thoughtfulness. The role was constructed around Hogg’s own past and memories, and it’s a testament to the filmmaking – and Swinton Byrne– that while The Souvenir might be dense and formal, it always feels intensely personal.
That might also be because Swinton Byrne’s own mother, Tilda Swinton, plays her on-screen mom. Then again, when your mom is one of the world’s greatest living thespians, her (pronouns?) casting has more than a few advantages. Swinton doesn’t disappoint here, playing a sympathetic, yet distant, figure in Julie’s life. The elder Swinton’s scenes are minimal, and she never threatens to steal the spotlight away from her daughter.
At the end of the day, this is another high-quality coming-of-age drama distributed by A24. Yes, the same studio behind Lady Bird, Moonlight, Mid90s, The Florida Project and Eighth Grade has delivered another unorthodox tale of a young person reaching some sort of maturity. Of its predecessors, The Souvenir has the most in common with Gerwig’s triumph – the way Hogg strings together images and scenes somewhat resembles Lady Bird’s dynamic construction. But make no mistake, The Souvenir certainly breaks new ground, illustrating just how much you can show without showing. “Telling” you about it can’t quite do it justice.
(The Souvenir is in limited release now. You can also read our capsule review of The Souvenir from Sundance here.)
The Souvenir Review:
Read next: The Spool's Best New Releases
Streaming guides
The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
The praises of live TV streaming services don’t need to be further sung. By now, we all know that compared to clunky, commitment-heavy cable, live TV is cheaper and much easier to manage. But just in case you’re still on the fence about jumping over to the other side, or if you’re just unhappy with ... The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
Season 3 of the hotly anticipated Power spin-off, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, is arriving on Starz soon, so you know what that means: it’s the ’90s again in The Southside, and we’re back with the Thomas family as they navigate the ins and outs of the criminal underworld they’re helping build. Mekai Curtis is ... How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re so back! To celebrate Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, the BBC is producing a three-episode special starring none other than the Tenth/Fourteenth Doctor himself, David Tennant. And to the supreme delight of fans (that would be me, dear reader), the Doctor will be joined by old-time companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and ... How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Which Netflix Country has Interstellar?
Maybe you’ve just seen Oppenheimer and have the strongest urge to marathon—or more fun yet, rank!—all of Christopher Nolan’s films. Or maybe you’re one of the few who haven’t seen Interstellar yet. If you are, then you should change that immediately; the dystopian epic is one of Nolan’s best, and with that incredible twist in ... Which Netflix Country has Interstellar?
Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
For whatever reason, The Hunger Games series isn’t available in the same countries around the world. You’ll find the first and second (aka the best) installments in Hong Kong, for instance, but not the third and fourth. It’s a frustrating dilemma, especially if you don’t even have a single entry in your region, which is ... Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
How to Watch ESPN With A Free Trial
One of the major concerns people have before cutting the cord is potentially losing access to live sports. But the great thing about live TV streaming services is that you never lose that access. Minus the contracts and complications of cable, these streaming services connect you to a host of live channels, including ESPN. So ... How to Watch ESPN With A Free Trial
How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
To date, Paramount Network has only two original shows on air right now: Yellowstone and Bar Rescue. The network seems to have its hands full with on-demand streaming service Paramount+, which is constantly stacked with a fresh supply of new shows. But Yellowstone and Bar Rescue are so sturdy and expansive that the network doesn’t ... How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
Previously “Women’s Entertainment,” We TV has since rebranded to accurately reflect its name and be a more inclusive lifestyle channel. It’s home to addictive reality gems like Bold and Bougie, Bridezillas, Marriage Boot Camp, and The Untold Stories of Hip Hop. And when it’s not airing original titles, it has on syndicated shows like 9-1-1, ... How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
How to Watch TNT Sports With A Free Trial
For many sports fans, TNT is a non-negotiable. It broadcasts NBA, MLB, NHL, college basketball, and All Elite Wrestling matches. And, as a bonus, it also has reruns of shows like Supernatural, Charmed, and NCIS, as well as films like The Avengers, Dune, and Justice League. But while TNT used to be a cable staple, ... How to Watch TNT Sports With A Free Trial
How to Watch Comedy Central With a Free Trial
It’s no coincidence that many of today’s biggest comedians found their footing on Comedy Central: the channel is a bastion of emerging comic talents. It served as a playground for people like Nathan Fielder (Fielder For You), Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson (Broad City), Tim Robinson (Detroiters), and Dave Chappelle (Chappelle’s Show) before they shot ... How to Watch Comedy Central With a Free Trial
How to Watch FX With a Free Trial
You’d be hard-pressed to find a bad show airing on FX. The channel has made a name for itself as a bastion of high-brow TV, along with HBO and AMC. It’s produced shows like Atlanta, Fargo, The Americans, Archer, and more recently, Shogun. But because it’s owned by Disney, it still airs several blockbusters in ... How to Watch FX With a Free Trial