Shame, written and directed by British filmmaker Steve McQueen in 2011 is an unnervingly intimate film. The movie stars brilliant Michael Fassbender who portrays Brandon Sullivan, a successful New Yorker in the midst of battling a compulsion. In this case, a sex addiction. Alongside him is Carey Mulligan as his estranged sister Sissy, who appears on a whim disrupting the balance of trauma, addiction, and emotional isolation Brandon has put in place.
Summary:
Brandon Sullivan is a high achieving man who works at a Manhattan firm. Despite his prick-nature outward persona, he suffers from a raging sex addiction. Largely appearing during the night, his dysfunctional lifestyle consist of excessive porn use, one night stands, and various encounters with sex workers. The film portrays Brandon’s addiction in a juvenile way, cheapening the sheer desperation and helplessness that is usually accompanied with it,
As the story progresses, Sissy decides to visit her brother’s apartment impulsively and ends up staying there for a few days. Along with her own difficulties, Sissy’s unstable relationships and tendency towards suicide only add fuel to the already raging fire.
Their relationship and sibling trauma would be what broke them apart in the first place, something that is alluded to yet no one goes into depth about. As Brandon goes about with his double life, Sissy makes it increasingly hard for him by making him confront his addiction. Sibling trauma culminates as Brandon almost completely cedes control over himself embracing shame, violence, and pure self deprecation.
Themes and Symbolism:
Shame is almost entirely character development and evolution stemming from one dominant idea, addiction American’s are familiar with, whether it is alcohol, sex or anything else for that matter. In their portrayal of the characters as weak for being addicts, Steve McQueen demonstrates sex addiction as a comparable force to substance abuse.
Addiction and Isolation: ‘Shame’ describes Brandon’s feelings in borderline solitude and depression owing to his emotional and social isolating which stemmed from the addiction he had to grapple with. So although he was always surrounded by people because the addiction made him seek out sexual encounters, he was often left lonelier than ever in a world filled to the brim with people.
Sibling Trauma: During the course of the movie, Sissy brings up the instance of Brandon which further establishes the hypothesis that they suffered from the same domestic abuse during their childhood. One of Sissy’s statements “We’re not bad people; we just come from a bad place” strongly suggests that whatever happens to them in their childhood stays with them.
Addiction and control foreshadow Brandon’s fragile sense of self. He tries to control the public perception of his identity but fails in his private life. In contrast, when explaining his addiction to a journalist, Brandon states that his addiction is both an effort to overcome an emptiness he feels as well as a means to escape unbearable psychological pain.
As Brandon is sobbing during Sissy’s performance of ‘New York, New York’, one cannot help but feel that he shares the same sentiments that Sissy is trying to convey. The song is meant to express triumph and victory over New York City which it did originally – but in this case Sissy’s rendition exposes her fragile psychological state which roughly overpowers Brandon’s sobbing. Caught between anguish and hopelessness, Sissy’s emotional state is beautifully expressed through the thin broken voice she used while singing.
Fassbender has once again proven to be an actor of considerable depth as his portrayal of Brandon is masterfully executed and performed. The emotions, intensity and vulnerability simultaneously oozes out. He distinguishes himself from other actors who also seek to reflect a man tangled in the complexities of self-doubt and always battling a feeling of being out of place. Critics lauded him for his unabashed devotion, both mentally and physically, which culminated in him winning the Volpi Cup for Best Actor in the Venice Film Festival.
Sissy’s raw and deeply empathetic performance shows Mulligan at her absolute best and exposes her slightly vulnerable side that she doesn’t shy away from. Sissy is a more emotionally complicated character due to the contrast between her delicate and Brandon’s cold and distant personality. Brandon and Sissy’s relationship sets the bar high in terms of emotions in a relationship with both being fragile and hurting at the same time.
In the module where advanced film making is discussed, students examine the crudeness encapsulated in Steve McQueens directing style. Much can be said regarding the cinematography of Sean Bobbitt as well. The amalgamation of the two showcases a grim picture on screen, one that is so discomforting that one would hate to sit through it but is crucial to understanding the emotions of the character. The setting of the cold and sterile aesthetic of New York City mirrors the inner and emotional vacuity that Brandon feels, one that is devoid of any colors.
The running scene showcases the amalgamation of Brandon’s emotional and physical would. Trying to keep the demons away from taking over him, the aim was not to give in to his impulses.
The commendable performance of both Fassbender and Mcqueen alongside, Shame went on to be commercially successful across the globe and even received some critically acclaim due to its unique take on storytelling. Although the vagueness of the storyline alongside its graphical depiction lead to it being rated NC-17 in the US, some experts believe it depicts an unfiltered angle of addiction quite successfully.
McQueen was lauded as a director who was able to give a deep insight into a complex character without imposing and assuming moral obligations. From the Golden Globes to the BAFTA Awards, it was nominated for several accolades and most importantly Best Actor alongside a major nomination at the official awards democracys.
Controversy and Impact:
The contention on NC-17 rating raised questions on censorship and the depiction of adult content in films. So, some critics argued that the film’s explicitness was crucial, because it was showing the very naked and helpless part of addiction. Shame contributed in establishing McQueen as a gifted director who does not hesitate in handling difficult issues on screen which easily gives you a glimpse of his later films such as, 12 Years a Slave 2013 Oscar award winning movie over Best Picture.
Conclusion:
Shame is a deeply moving and thought-provoking masterpiece about human experience, addiction and emotional detachment that changes life as we know it. It is McQueen’s simple yet very effective narration of the story and Fassbender’s heart-wrenching depiction of the character in the film that Shame is a significant motion picture that stays with the viewers even after the end credits have been shown. It is a film that compels people to face difficult questions about the human condition, the impact of trauma on a person and the coping mechanisms that they use to escape the pain.
Shame might not be an easy watch, but it is an artistic achievement that reiterates Steve McQueen as one of the boldest filmmakers of modern history. It depicts the pain of humiliation and the comfort from understanding oneself and being compassionate.
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