Steven J Martin and the crew of Must See Pictures have been quite busy this year, with “She Sings to Birds” being the third movie they shoot in 2023, in a title that had its American premiere a few days ago in Hyannis Film Festival. It is also worth mentioning that the transition from intense stage play aesthetics is essentially completed, with the film being the most cinematic the group has shot so far.
“She Sings to Birds” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
After the loss of her beloved husband, Michiko, an elderly woman, falls into the throes of dementia, only communicating with weird sounds and the movement of her hands, to the annoyance of her daughter, Sara. However, when a new caretaker, Megumi, enters her life, she becomes convinced that Michiko can talk with birds, and even shares her thoughts with Sara. Despite her initial reluctance towards the newcomer, the latter eventually starts to warm up to the caretaker, just as Michiko does.
Check also this interview
Once more in his film, Martin presents a series of comments that are juxtaposed through the narrative, this time however, not only through dialogue, but also through more cinematic techniques. The issues with the caring of the elderly and particularly the concept of dementia emerges as a central one, with the patience it demands from the people around being highlighted through Sara, who also has to face the grief for her father's death, and the loss of a mother who was ideal until her mental situation deteriorated. The solution Martin seems to propose, of perceiving dementia as just another form of thinking and perceiving the world is somewhat romanticized, but works quite well for the economy of the movie, as it allows him to present a series of cinematic “tricks”. Furthermore, it highlights the part of Megumi, in another excellent performance by Nana Akuzawa, who plays the role of the catalyst of the story in the most delightful fashion.
Regarding the first aspect, DPs Shota Uchiyama and Duain Cameron use some sudden zoom-ins, unexpected camera movement, shaky cameras and a sequence utterly bathed in blue which is probably the most visually impressive in the whole movie. The difference in lighting and coloring of the flashbacks also works quite well here, with editors Ryoma Miki and Steven J Martin placing them in ideal points in the story, while the music-video like scenes, in combination with the main theme, work quite well in terms of entertainment too. Granted, sometimes it feels that the director was experimenting with techniques in order to see what works (perhaps for future endeavors) but the sum of them, definitely adds to the value of the 40-minute short.
Naoki Kondo as Sara is also quite convincing as the bitter daughter who manages to open up, and accept and adapt to her situation, while also being the main source of the comments regarding family, grief, and the value of communication. Naoko Takagi as Michiko plays in a way that reminded me intently of Jodie Foster's performance in “Nell”, somewhere between the realistic and the surrealistic/lyrical, which also works well for the movie.
“She Sings to Birds” is the collective's most cinematic work so far, and a movie that definitely deserves a watch for the entertainment it offers while touching on a series of serious subjects. It is also a most welcome step in the path of the group, which I am excited to see where it will lead them.
