“Scrap” can be interpreted as the anatomy of a FU. But its awfully hard to pinpoint where the bad luck started that sparked the FU or are there innate personal characteristics that create a FU irrespective of a trigger?
Poor Beth (Vivian Kerr) is in a downward spiral perhaps commencing with the loss of her parents in a plane crash. Older brother Ben (Anthony Rapp) assumed a fatherly role in raising Beth. After being “downsized” Beth sleeps in a car and has abandoned her bad toothed daughter Birdy with Ben and his wife Stacey (Lana Parrilla). Beth is a liar, cheat, selfish, slovenly, egocentric and so forth. She is not a likeable character. Yet her brother Ben is a successful author with a big shot infertile corporate lawyer wife living the good life in Beverly Hills. In a series of lies Beth crashes at Ben and Stacey’s house.
As with many FU cases there are many, “I’m sorry” lines from Beth. She is not only a FU but it seems a loser to boot. Is she nothing but “scrap” in the United States homeless capital Los Angeles? There are a couple of scenes of homeless tent cities and an occasional mentally disturbed homeless person. Beth is the precipice of being homeless so the symbolism is germane. Being compassionate hopefully the viewer can spare a bit of compassion for Beth despite her loathsome character?
The film is engrossing as its conclusion is going to be messy right? Or are there tears of happiness that might amount to a Hollywood cliché ending? It is not particularly enjoyable to watch the disintegration of Beth but what is the logical conclusion of a downward spiral? Quite frankly I don’t have the heart to tell you but given the direction of 96% of the movie the ending is not pleasant and I kind of mean that in a different way.
There are no weak links in the acting here. As I said Beth is not particularly likeable but who needs a likeable character! She is a delightful FU and plays that role quite well. I like her because I don’t like her! Lana Parrilla as Stacey is a very polished and convincing actress. Although most of her credits are in television do I sense a breakthrough into mainstream Hollywood film?
An impressive soundtrack with Billie Holiday and Al Jolson adding an appreciated unique twist.
It is making a run in the United States next showing at Phoenix Film Festival 31March-2April.
You can see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3WYceeErS4
Yes Beth (Vivian Kerr) is the writer, director and producer of the film and Kerr is no FU in making this film and there seems little justification for not having a film like this on the “big screen” national release.
RKS 2023 Film Rating 86/100.
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