Edie ( Simon Hunter, 2017): UK

Review by Breana Jimenez Viewed at The Santa Barbara Film Festival, 2018.

Set in England Edie has lived the same way all her life. She’s done her “duty” as a mother and wife so when her husband George dies she is left to think about her life, and her happiness. Getting ready to move into a retirement home she starts to pack her life in boxes. As she is reminescent about her life, looking at her old camping gear, her best memories are of her hiking with her father. She gets in a huge fight with her daughter and on a whim leaves to Scotland on the great hiking adventure her and her father never got to take.It opens up in a dark and rainy England, her life is sad and unfulfilled. The mis-en-scene is as depressing as her life. In a very strange way this is somewhat of a coming of age story and being able to find happiness at any age.

This film doesn’t have a lot of dialogue it is extremely visual and relies heavily on sound. The two shots that reoccur the most were extreme wides to really show the beautiful landscape of Scotland and the journey she is attempting to embark on. In contrast to that of the extreme close ups which showcase the rare times you get insight on what Edie is thinking and feeling.

A beautiful redemption story for anyone at any age. Edie lets us acknowledge that sometimes we live our lives for other people but to stop and not don’t forget to live for you, more importantly it’s never to late to make your dreams come true.