She’s Lost Control-2014
Director-Anja Marquardt
Starring-Brooke Bloom
Scott’s Review #299
Reviewed December 14, 2015
Grade: B+
She’s Lost Control is a dark, independent drama, and the directorial debut of Anja Marquardt.
This film is one reason I proudly support independent film, as it is otherwise a film that most do not know about, and will never know about, if not for good word of mouth and award recognition- think indie spirit awards. Hopefully, Marquardt will one day be a household name.
The film is heavy yet intriguing and certainly a character study.
The film is a dark and dreary experience- some might argue depressing, centering on Ronah- a young, female, college student, aspiring towards her master’s degree in psychology, who works as a sexual surrogate in Manhattan.
The film explores her experiences with various clients, specifically, a disturbed, volatile man, who she takes on as a client. As she becomes better acquainted with Johnny, they forge a special bond, but will romantic feelings and jealousy get in the way of the therapy assigned to both parties involved?
How each of them explores their feelings is the focal point of the tale, and clearly, the feelings involved are not peaches and cream.
Ronah is not a prostitute and there is very little sex that goes on, albeit the implication is certainly there. She is nurturing and very emotionally invested and intends to become a psychiatrist one day. It is unclear whether her “boss”, a shady seeming character, is her pimp or simply employer. His role and motivations are a bit unclear.
The most interesting aspect of the film is the title and throughout my viewing of the film I wondered about the title more and more- are any of Ronah’s experiences in her mind? Is she stable or does she perhaps have some emotional or mental issues? She befriends a kind neighbor around her age and invites her for dinner- they bond. The neighbor invites her out dancing, but Ronah declines.
She also has an older female confidant- a former surrogate herself who gives Ronah tips and suggestions. Still, Ronah is lonely. Again we wonder if perhaps all is not what it seems? This is a fascinating aspect of the story. One must watch to determine the answers to questions such as these.
New York City can be a tough, unkind world and She’s Lost Control does not sugar coat an individual’s difficult existence when not blessed with family money, strings, or some other advantage. Ronah lives in a dump with holes in her shower and cramped quarters. In addition to her hardships where she lives, she is constantly kept abreast of problems concerning her brother and mother back home in upstate New York. Quite simply, Ronah is overwhelmed by her life. Might she be spinning out of control?
The dreary aspect of the film, to me, is not so much the sexual aspect. Ronah is a therapist and everything is with mutual consent. Unfortunately, she is challenged by some of the people she encounters in her profession.
I admire She’s Lost Control (2014) quite a bit for its insight, thoughtfulness, and compelling story of a woman with a difficult life, trying to make ends meet, and aspiring to something worthwhile. She is brave, troubled, and interesting all rolled up in one fascinating lead character.
Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best First Screenplay, Best First Feature