The Unspeakable Act

After Fourteen and this, I want more of Dan Sallitt. He transports such a heavy sadness in these straight and straight-talking images, one that isn't lightened by his characters' self-examination. I find it therefore apt that this Jackie girl takes to psychoanalysis at the end, because "first you wonder how your own head works and then you get interested in other people's heads". Which is kind of a mission statement for how empathetically the film works out the unspeakable.

Ofc two weirdos who are into incest would go to a Decemberists concert. Loved the scenes with the therapist. In its obviously fucked up way (the point I know) an endearing look at the bonds between siblings thru adolescences and what it means to mature and grow up.

Feels a little like Juno without any of the comedic chutzpah or A-list gloss. That's not a criticism, the two films are on a par in terms of intelligence and story, this one just chose a different path more grounded in realism and less commercial. We have a nerdy teenage girl who is curious about sex and adulthood and about to go through some strange times. Performances are quite natural, and the relaxed pace suits it quite well. This film isn't afraid to go to some places that others wouldn't.

incredibly genuine, able to freely discuss itself in voiceover and even in therapy sessions without ever coming off as didactic. craft-wise, ozu and rohmer would both approve. infinitely better than something like LADY BIRD or THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN or etcetcetcetc

Another laidback and intelligent story by Dan Sallitt. I’m a real sucker for these types of movies without music and mostly some characters talking and thinking. It’s quite funny, too. The topic of (fantasized) incest is surely one that you don’t see often. It makes for a really interesting and elegant movie that provides food for thought about how we engage with taboo. Sallitt, make more movies!

The film is talky and voiceover heavy but the initial awkwardly constructed first act slowly develops into an intelligent and complex dissection of the controversial subject matter.