Things I Watched: Certain Women - A Sympathetic Portrait Of Four Women

In order to make up for the fact I didn't watch enough movies last year, I've decided to my way through Sight & Sound's Best Films of 2016 list. The latest stop on my journey is Certain Woman, America filmmaker Kelly Reichardt's quiet-but-powerful drama about womanhood.

Set in modern-day Montana, Certain Women tells four interconnecting stories. There's lawyer (Laura Dern) dealing with a disgruntled client who doesn't respect her because of her gender. A mother (Michelle Williams) who feels undermined by her husband and worries she's losing her daughter's respect as a result. A ranch worker (Lily Gladstone) who lives in isolation. And law-student (Kirsten Stewart) who laments having to moonlight as a teacher instead of concentrating on her career.

What follows isn't important in terms of action but in the way Reichardt frames each story. Each vigntte highlights an implicit sadness that draws us towards deep internal feelings. It's subtle but effective because Reichhardt never tries to extract emotions by force. She opts for a quiescent approach that impresses because it treat its subjects as humans not political vehicles.

I saw one critic suggest the film makes us sense characters who we 'feel might have painful shoes'. It's a strange quote but in many way sums up the film's illustration of realistic problems. The simplicity excels in making us sympathise with each character, regardless of their occupation, hair colour, or choice of vehicle (one rides a horse to work).

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