Despite how utterly insane this film is, I think the weirdest aspect of it came after to me, having viewed the film and began reading up on it after; only to discover that the film's opening scene was not entire satirical, but had a genuine set of directions regarding giving the audience at the time ways to smell specific objects that appeared through the film. This was met with a flashing number that would appear on the screen every so often to remind audiences what smell is next. Immersing them, I guess, more into the film. A genuine case of smellovision. I figured there was no better way to introduce you to this film than through that brief bit of trivia. If not serving as some context when I say that Polyester is an utterly insane story, but one that contains much brilliance as a result.
It also came to a surprise that the film was directed by John Waters. Though the surprise ultimately being lost and the connected to his weirder style of humour actually making a lot of sense. John Waters is a name we do not really hear of today, but if you know of him, then you have a general idea of how interesting of a character he can be when acting, and I guess more so when behind the camera in the position of a director. I have to admit, I had no idea what I was getting myself into with Polyester. This film was something I heard referenced elsewhere and decided I would note it down for something unexpected to watch. I read a brief synopsis and assumed it was an 80s film with some serious tones to it. Well, I was certainly wrong.
It was a great surprise, however, and one that I definitely won't forget. An experience I will definitely be suggesting to others going forward due to its themes and insanity, but also the brilliance of it as it, whether intentionally or not, speaks a lot regarding our modern chaotic lifestyles. Detailing society, capitalism, comedy, and just downright weirdness without a single care in the world.
Polyester throws us immediately into the lives of two parents in the late 70s, early 80s era of America. A time where the working class loved their brown colours and awful suits. For some reason society as a whole agreeing that brightness was ugly and pursuing the most depressing, darkest designs they could find. We are thrown into what looks like your typical 80s television marriage. And this is where the chaos immediately begins. Our protagonist, Francine being a mother of two and a wife to a husband that is just endlessly harsh. I could not help but laugh at his cruelty, which was entirely unwarranted. We see two children that are stereotyped turned to eleven. Where one is this young teenage party girl that is heavily exaggerated, and the other being a troublemaker. Our starting context displays that the husband owns a pornographic theatre, and members of the public do not approve of it.
Here is where the film really takes its shine, however. It begins this narrative that puts modern society into the spotlight. We see capitalism and the ways in which it has promoted our many needs and wants and turned us into horrific beings that distribute hate and cruelty in search of our own happiness. Where we are marketed to and told how to act and given justifcation for it, as if each of us are pursuing the ideal life in this manner. The humour takes this to a completely different level, where everything is so just odd and intense. To say there is symbolism or metaphors is to say the least; everything spirals out of control in this manner that is rapid, definitely exaggerated, but ultimately true. The ways in which we fall victim to society's expectations and break under its weight, but are given these methods of supposed cures to guide us into being the ideal person. Though we know that is not true.
It pokes fun at the idea of society's attempts to cure mental health issues that are evidently caused by society. Where it turns us into psychopaths and degenerates in the pursuit of fun and fame. We have two polar opposites displayed here in the form of Francine's children. One being a perverse teenager that is roaming around high on drugs as he stomps on the feet of women. The other being a young woman that parties and accepts the degeneracy of her lifestyle as one of glamour that must go on. We see the ways in which society tells her that this is okay and what she should be. As is the case with the son and his perverse nature where pornographic material spirals out of control and provides conflicting emotions to the youth.
Our protagonist, Francine, has her life turned completely upside down as each of these elements grows in strangeness and seriousness. One ending up in prison, the other parading teenage pregnancy and the idea of getting an abortion as if it is some achievement. We see a lot of references to society's methods of cleansing us of our issues, poking fun at the idiocy of it as it never really fixes our problems given it just continues to promote these lifestyles. There are scenes where every aspect of progress are considered to be extreme options as well. Everything unfolds in such a rapid manner that it displays life as some strange theatre performance in which the wheels never stop. Life being this absurd experience of selfishness, consumerism, and cruelty. Society manipulating our senses and telling us how to feel, live, act, and how to fix our problems. Which is interesting given the smellovision idea presented in the opening scene.
The documentary Koyaanisqatsi displays the ways in which humanity has progressed beyond nature, and into some twisted mess of ideas that rejects the foundations of our being. Polyester follows in that idea through comedy and satire, where exaggeration is key in promoting its ideas. Even in its performances, our cast do not even appear to perform like actual actors. As if they are unknown members of the public just pulled aside and told to star in this film. Their line delivery is sarcastic, weird, and in such a dramatic nature that it seems like a bad performance you would find in some small production that ends up going straight to video in the early 2000s (or appears on the Syfy channel).
Though it feels very intentional. Even in the way it is directed. The humour and everyone's inability to really feel and act like people. There is a scene where our protagonist attempts to hang themselves on the fridge in the kitchen, another character casually walking in and asking where Francine is, and then talking to her normally as she encourages the idea of going out somewhere. Completely oblivious to the reality of Francine's circumstances and desperation for an escape. It pokes fun at the idea that these events take place daily, showing the insanity of how we all play along in some dance of total ignorance. A blindness present that even when people's weakest points are in front of us, we act like machines incapable of feeling empathy.
None of this ever feels forced upon us as the audience, however. Polyester strangely displays itself as a very normal production. Sometimes taking advantage of cheap laughs to be made, but through its ability to construct itself as something just weird, separate from reality. As if we are catching a glimpse into another universe were all these things are the norm. Though they are, in our own reality. And that ignorance returns to us as an audience, seeing our lifestyles in such a strange way that really displays how broken everything is. Never providing solutions, but giving us a very harsh reminder of just how fucked up everything around us is when we give it attention.
I definitely recommend checking this out. It's a film that is bad in all the right ways. A good bad film.
The rewards earned on this comment will go directly to the people( @namiks ) sharing the post on Twitter as long as they are registered with @poshtoken. Sign up at https://hiveposh.com.