Songs She Wrote About People She Knows (Kris Elgstrand, 2014): Canada/USA

Reviewed by Lia Durham. Viewed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2015.

Songs She Wrote About People She Knows is a story about self-expression and finding your true voice. Writer/Director Kris Elgstrand creates this vibrant brightly colored world which contradicts the sad melodic lyrics and music in this non-typical musical. Filmed on 16mm film and shot mostly in Vancouver with a few scenes in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria (but described in the film as northern California) cinematographer/producer Amy Belling uses tight close ups of the lead Carol played by Arabella Bushnell whenever she gets the inspiration to break into song.

Carol is a quiet aloof woman who has a difficult time expressing how she feels. To rectify this she decides to communicate her feelings through song and begins to call her family and friends and leave haunting musical voicemails which are both funny to us the audience and disturbing to the characters in the film. The film takes place over the course of one week with everyday being introduced by big oversized titles of each day of the week. Early on in the film she reluctantly teams up with her boss Brad after leaving him one of her blunt lyrical messages after which he is inspired to chase his dream of being a rock star. Brad is the total opposite of Carol he is intense, aggressive, talks fast and is generally all over the place. Thus begins the journey of self-discovery for this odd couple.

Songs She Wrote is a quirky feel good film with real moments of sincerity and truth. The soft jazz blues inspired music is wonderful and gives the film real emotional depth. When Carol is staring straight into the camera singing her songs it’s both funny and sad, intimate and raw. This film will stick with you and have you thinking about it days after you’ve seen it. It’ll also have you considering next time you have a problem confronting an issue maybe you should try singing it.