Review: The Guitar

A mousy young woman discovers that she has two months to live in the onset of Amy Redford's seductive fantasy/fable The Guitar. Not only has Melody (Saffron Burrows) lost her voice - an inoperable tumor is blocking her throat - and all hope for her future, but she is fired from her bad office job and dumped by her bad boyfriend. All on the same day.

What to do? Melody walks out of her modest apartment (which looked rather appealing to this Astoria dweller) and rents an unfurnished loft. She whips out her credit cards and starts shopping: furniture, clothes, food. Price is never an objection, immediate delivery required.

My initial response to Melody's course of action was outright disgust: You are staying in New York? You are home decorating? Melody throws her clothes out the window until the arrival of her new duds. Now you're polluting?

But an amazing thing happens. Maybe it's because Melody has such good taste: she buys gorgeous clothes, beautiful furniture, great clunky boots, a pretty butterfly necklace around her delicate neck. Or maybe it is because Saffron Burrows, previously best known as the scientist in a bra who escapes killer sharks, is really a fine actress. I was seduced by her story. Sucked in, enjoying Amy Redford's film despite myself.

And I wasn't alone. Roscoe (Isaach De Bankolé), the building delivery man, and Cookie (Paz de la Huerta), the spunky pizza delivery girl are also pulled in by the seemingly rich, careless white woman and all her bounty. The encounters between Melody's unexpected admirers are fairly delicious.

Turns out there is also some depth to Melody's character. After her initial rush of heady consumerism, she buys an object of specific sentimental value: a red electric guitar. In her spare time, when she's not unpacking boxes, eating delicious food, or carrying on with her new friends, Melody learns to play.

You almost forget that she is dying. Melody certainly does.

Amy Redford's film, written by Amos Poe, is divorced from reality. If you find out that you are dying, I don't recommend the path Melody takes. Chances are you won't transform from a little gray mouse to a gorgeous butterfly. Nonetheless, the movie - a fairytale - pleases enormously.

The Guitar (2008)

Starring: Saffron Burrows, Isaach DeBankole, Paz De La Huerta
Directed by: Amy Redford
Produced by: Andy Emilio, Bob Kravitz, Amy Redford
Running Time: 1 hr. 32 min.
Release Date: November 7th, 2008 (limited)
MPAA Rating: R for sexual content, nudity and some language.
Distributors: Lightning Media