Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of watching Lena Dunham return to her first love, filmmaking as writer, director, producer, and actor in Sharp Stick. She is a prodigious talent and demonstrated remarkable courage and sensitivity in making this film. Sharp Stick premiered at Sundance last Saturday, and I was very interested to see Ms. Dunham’s new work.
It’s the story of Sarah Jo, a young, sexually immature woman who had a hysterectomy at a very young age, who slowly discovers her sexuality and herself along the way.
Brilliantly acted by Jennifer Jason Leigh (who plays Sarah Jo’s mother), and indeed the entire cast, the story is told with wit, sensitivity, and cleverness. It handles the most personal and intimate of subjects with a great deal of honesty and humor. The film is not to be missed.
Ms. Dunham said this film was her “most personal yet.” It has been 11 years since her last feature film. Sharp Stick was also shot during the pandemic, so in addition to all the usual challenges of filmmaking at this high level, they also had to contend with on-set safety and covid protocols.
The film was written with many of the main character’s actors in mind, including the incandescent Jennifer Jason Leigh. Ms. Leigh was asked in the Q and A following the screening how did it feel to hear that Ms. Dunham had written a part especially for her. She said, “it feels pretty darn good.” Ms. Leigh absolutely nails the part of the mother, and without exception, Ms. Dunham pulls extraordinary performances out of every one of her actors.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the contrasts to Ms. Dunham’s previously New York City-based work like Girls and the film Tiny Furniture. This is film feels much different. It’s suffused with the soft Los Angeles light, full of folks trying to fit in in the shadow of the Hollywood sign. Hangers on, dreamers, influencers, everyone looking for connection and validation. Whereas the New York work was grittier, more aggressive, more sure of itself perhaps, but not without a certain desperate edge. Things move a bit faster in New York City. You get the sense of people and places being nearly on top of each other. Whereas in Sharp Stick, they can breathe, if only the haze and smoke-filled Los Angeles air.
A note about the music in the film. Many of the songs were composed and performed by an excellent band called Attawalpa, which has a fascinating, somewhat dark sound. It fits the film just beautifully.
Sundance continues through 1/30/22, and since it’s all virtual, anyone can attend. All you need is a computer and Internet access. Tickets and more information are available here: sundance.org.
It’s the story of Sarah Jo, a young, sexually immature woman who had a hysterectomy at a very young age, who slowly discovers her sexuality and herself along the way.
Brilliantly acted by Jennifer Jason Leigh (who plays Sarah Jo’s mother), and indeed the entire cast, the story is told with wit, sensitivity, and cleverness. It handles the most personal and intimate of subjects with a great deal of honesty and humor. The film is not to be missed.
Ms. Dunham said this film was her “most personal yet.” It has been 11 years since her last feature film. Sharp Stick was also shot during the pandemic, so in addition to all the usual challenges of filmmaking at this high level, they also had to contend with on-set safety and covid protocols.
The film was written with many of the main character’s actors in mind, including the incandescent Jennifer Jason Leigh. Ms. Leigh was asked in the Q and A following the screening how did it feel to hear that Ms. Dunham had written a part especially for her. She said, “it feels pretty darn good.” Ms. Leigh absolutely nails the part of the mother, and without exception, Ms. Dunham pulls extraordinary performances out of every one of her actors.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the contrasts to Ms. Dunham’s previously New York City-based work like Girls and the film Tiny Furniture. This is film feels much different. It’s suffused with the soft Los Angeles light, full of folks trying to fit in in the shadow of the Hollywood sign. Hangers on, dreamers, influencers, everyone looking for connection and validation. Whereas the New York work was grittier, more aggressive, more sure of itself perhaps, but not without a certain desperate edge. Things move a bit faster in New York City. You get the sense of people and places being nearly on top of each other. Whereas in Sharp Stick, they can breathe, if only the haze and smoke-filled Los Angeles air.
A note about the music in the film. Many of the songs were composed and performed by an excellent band called Attawalpa, which has a fascinating, somewhat dark sound. It fits the film just beautifully.
Sundance continues through 1/30/22, and since it’s all virtual, anyone can attend. All you need is a computer and Internet access. Tickets and more information are available here: sundance.org.