The Souvenir

The Souvenir is an earnest, at times sluggish, romantic drama. Directed by Joanna Hogg, it is said to be based on her own life, as it details the relationship between a young woman in film school and an older man whom she discovers is a heroin addict.

Honor Swinton Byrne plays Julia, who is a young woman of privilege (her mother is played by her real-life mother, Tilda Swinton) who has an idea to make a film about life in Sunderland, an economically depressed town. She lives in a flat with two other people, and when they move out a recent acquaintance, Anthony (Tom Burke) asks to move in. I've never tried this move before--just ask to move in with a girl you fancy, and say it's for work, but you can't explain why.

After living platonically for a while, they form a relationship, and Byrne questions the marks on his arm. Later, while having dinner with friends of his, it slips out that he is a habitual heroin user, which shocks her. As you might guess, Julie is very obtuse.

She is also a doormat, as when Burke steals her things and falsely claims its a burglary, and after he confesses, she ends up apologizing to him. How much you enjoy this film will be based partly on how Julie's passive behavior enrages you,

Nevertheless, the film has some lovely, quiet moments. Byrne gives a subtle, textured performance, but I just couldn't help wishing the character showed some backbone. When she kicks Burke out for getting arrested, you feel good, but then she lets him back in again.

The Souvenir is set in the early '80s, which is indicated by the use of a typewriter and some vintage songs on the soundtrack. There is one moment at which I was talking back to the screen, when a character says there has never been a good musical to come out of Britain. A Hard Day's Night?