“I read a book, a day like an apple,
But I did not eat….”
- - Down and Dusky Blonde,
God Help the Girl
Written and Directed by Stuart Murdoch of the Scottish Indie Pop band Belle and Sebastian, the film “God Help the Girl” is a musical romantic drama, which dives into the themes of mental illness, the struggles of being an artist, and the nature of art itself. With a soundtrack penned by Stuart himself, it fleshes out the characters as witty and sardonic, and helps set the tone of the whole 111 minutes runtime.
The leading lady, Eve, played by Emily Browning, is the personification of the insecurity, doubts, and pangs one feels when longing for connection and purpose. Aspiring to be a songwriter, Eve’s story kicks-off as she is running away from a psychiatric hospital. Then through a series of events she meets James, in a usual met-at-a-concert-fight, who helps her to break out of her self-imposed shell and becomes her collaborator.
And through James we meet the catalyst Cassie, played by Hannah Murray. The name seems like a talisman for the actor which fans of the British show Skins will immediately recognize. But this Cassie is different from the one Murray played in Skins, for once she is vibrant and full of joy, instead of the complicated and struggling girl who deals with anorexia nervosa.
Set in Glasgow, Scotland, the visually dynamic background of cafes, urban streets, and buildings is depicted in warm colors, depicting the bustling creative fervor of the city. While scenes featuring Eve singular are bathed in cool hues, her vulnerability is at full display.
The music plays the most vital part in the narrative, building conflict as well as providing us an insight into the minds of the characters. The musical score by the band is integrated with natural sounds like rusting of leaves, of traffic lights, to enhance the ambience. The costumes and production design has a visibly chic and retro influence while not shying away from the urban street representation.
Just as we see James develop feelings for Eve, Anton, another singer, enters and a relationship between Eve and him begins. Eve even gives Anton a tape that holds her songs to share with a record label manager, but as the story progresses we learn that Anton never did so, citing that the songs need better production and musical depth.
The bittersweet ending, a classic Belle and Sebastian move, is reminiscent of the song Get Me Away From Here, I’m Dying from their album If You’re Feeling Sinister.
