By Michael Andrillon | Staff Writer
You read the title right. And yeah, yeah, objectification, but hear me out. That chair can act. Also, good for her? It isn’t easy being a commodity, holding up all that weight, but something or someone’s gotta do it. But at what cost?
Camille’s life is lunch with the ladies, boredom, and a desire to be one with the longed-for, quite literally. Once IT happens, though, the film doesn’t let up on the unusualness too soon; chair caressing abounds. And it rides its quirks well, pulling away from an overly cynical tone or heavy commentary that would undo its surrealist energy.
We jump perspectives from Camille to Olivier, a young man caught up in his own class struggle in a world in which the power structures are both seductive yet elusive.
The choice of the deliberately theatrical overacting gives it this ethereal tone, especially the performance from Mamoudou Athie, which allowed him to really get in touch with his weird side in increasingly funny ways
Olivier rests on Camille in “By Design” | Photo via Music Box Films
The world of “By Design” is a mish-mash of designer fashion and cozy color palettes. Like a layer of dystopia was given a fancy paint job and a luxury shopping spree, which makes the backdrop of the film both operate on its own surreal logic, but reflectively socially aware in its aesthetic touch.
It’s an erotically charged dreamscape where this underlying sexual ambience encompasses objects, clothes, and murmurs.
I still find myself somewhat wishing it went just a little farther, more weird, but I can appreciate its graceful approach that doesn’t veer into in-your-face absurdity that already makes up the reel pulls and would’ve distracted from the real amusing acting and writing here.
“A woman’s metamorphosis” has been the thesis of many movies these past few years alone, but again…she turns into a chair, guys! If that premise is enough to make you curious, get your friends who may or may not have a knack for silly cinema and pull out some chairs. Just don’t get any funny ideas afterwards.
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