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Although summer is almost over, there has just now been a movie I've wanted to see at The Music Hall as apart of their SummerFilm fest.

Palindromes is the fourth feature from Todd Solondz. If you don't know who he is, you should. His movies are both shocking and thought-provoking, in simple terms, delving into sexuality, personal identity, relationships, and death --- or you could say any sort of 'touchy' subject that could result in a movie not having a formal MPAA rating.
There is a lot of 'mature' material in Solondz' work, most of it being awfully uncomfortable whenever discussed in general society, but his movies are so incredibly honest with the material. He has never gone too far with the expressed content, and usually acts in favor of his characters, to have them free themselves from their personal burdens and issues. Todd Solondz' last film Storytelling has a rather infamous 'red box' placed over a sex scene in the film, as he mocked the MPAA's distaste of his filmic content to receive an actual 'R' rating. The dvd release of the film gives an option for either the red box to be turned on or off.
Todd Solondz' work is very much unlike other controversial filmmakers, such as the Larry Clark and Harmonie Korine type, who use extreme issues as a means to throw the harsh violence and graphic sexual content at the audience, seemingly (and possibly) for no reason except beneficial controversy, and always achieving an 'unrated' film or by biting the NC-17 bullet.

Palindromes tells the story of Aviva, a young teenage girl who wants to have a baby. Her mother tells her that she's simply too young to have a child, saying how much of a hardship it would be, such as she might have to go on welfare for support for her child (Ellen Barkin's character is very much in a Dark Comedic tone, as is most of the movie). Still, Aviva is used to getting what she wants, being a seemingly spoiled yet simplistic child, and finds a way to become pregnant. Her mother reacts exactly the way we expect her to - and Aviva is lead down the road of consequences and finding out what the outside world holds for her.

The real genius in Aviva's journey of fufillment is how she isn't exactly simply the character of Aviva - she isn't one soul, or exterior - she's several different actors used for their expressions and appearance to exude the development of the story, progression of awareness, and change of environment. Near the end of the film, a key character explains to Aviva how no matter what happens to her, and every single person in the world and around her, they will always be the same. The shape of your body, the color of your skin, hair, eyes, clothing -- nobody ever really changes. Palindromes isn't about pregnancy or a teenage girl - it's about experiences that everyone has, and what affects us in life - as they will never change the core of a human being.

NOTE: If you are interest in seeing Palindromes, I suggest watching Welcome to the Dollhouse, as it is a steppingstone to the characters and issues in the film. Todd Solondz other films, Happiness and Storytelling are available on dvd. Palindromes is not rated and obviously contains mature content, such as sexuality, violence, and language.