It’s the birthday of director Joanna Hogg, who hasn’t directed that many films (comparatively) and yet what she has done really matters, so much so that when there are gaps between films, people who always have her on their radar wonder what she’s up to, when we will hear from her again. She goes years between films. Less is definitely more.
The anticipation around Hogg’s 2019 film The Souvenir was intense. Produced by Martin Scorsese, it starred Honor Swinton-Byrne (daughter to Tilda Swinton), Tom Burke, and Tilda Swinton. Hogg’s previous film – The Exhibition – came out in 2013. The Souvenir was ambitious and frankly autobiographical, about Hogg’s experiences as a young film student, but also her experiences in her first major relationship. Hogg is a fascinating case because her work holds you at a distance – she almost never uses closeups, and her camera almost never moves – but the overall effect is deeply emotional. It’s not “spare”. Minimalist is a word I wouldn’t use either, that seems like a film critic word. I’d just call it “focused.” And also very disciplined.
The Souvenir is a fascinating film and it was beyond thrilling that there was going to be a sequel. For me, it’s the only “franchise” I care about.
I was honored to write about The Souvenir for Film Comment, and – even more special – it was the cover story (my second for them. Listen, if I don’t blow my own horn, who else will.) I did the deepest of dives into Hogg’s career and if you’re interested I recommend you doing the same. She is also a GREAT interview. She seems incapable of giving a boring or rote interview.
Here’s my cover story on The Souvenir.
Then I wrote about it for Ebert’s 10 Best Films of 2019.
In a nice bit of symmetry, I reviewed the sequel – The Souvenir, Part II – which takes up right where the first one left off – for Ebert.
In 2022 came The Eternal Daughter, again with Tilda Swinton – this time playing a double role – the role her own daughter played in The Souvenir, as well as re-creating the mother role. So she was playing mother AND daughter. It’s a spooky fascinating film. I reviewed for Ebert.
Two final things: Sometimes I forget that this happened. That Tilda Swinton and her daughter, Honor Swinton-Byrne, posed on various red carpets, holding up the Film Comment issue with my cover story, or holding the magazine open to the story itself. Seriously. In a freelance writer’s career, you have to revel in the moments of triumph, because they are few and far between. This was a major moment for me. Very VERY proud of the piece I wrote on The Souvenir.
Thank you so much for stopping by. If you like what I do, and if you feel inclined to support my work, here’s a link to my Venmo account. And I’ve launched a Substack, Sheila Variations 2.0, if you’d like to subscribe.
