In writer-director Ana Lily Amirpour ’ s newest film , nothing is what it seems to be , yet much is openended to openminded interpretation . The Britishborn American filmmaker has courted vampires — her 2014 Persian-language debut film , A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night — and cannibals — The Bad Batch , 2016 , " a post-apocalyptic cannibal love story "— so this film about a young Korean woman with special abilities is somewhat mild by comparison .
Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon
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USA 2021
1 / 2
Opening Oct . 6 , 2022 106 minutes
© Weltkino Filmverleih GmbH
Directed by : Ana Lily Amirpour Writing credits : Ana Lily Amirpour Principal actors : Jeon Jong-seo , Kate Hudson , Craig Robinson , Ed Skrein , Evan Whitten
Set in sweaty , steamy Louisiana , Jeon Jong-seo portrays Mona Lisa Lee , a dangerous , deranged patient at a facility for the mentally ill who keeps stumbling into other people ’ s lives on full-moon nights . Being kept in a padded cell in a straightjacket makes her seem unintimidating , until a hospital worker is caught offguard ; later , party-goers point her toward the neon-lit Big Easy , a city known for its excesses . Hungry is how she meets Ed Skrein ’ s character , Fuzz , a dude as offbeat as he is strangely dressed ; he trades a T-shirt for a kiss . Is that all he wants ? Officer Harold , Craig Robinson ’ s character , scares her off but their paths cross again . Meeting the hedonist Bonnie — Kate Hudson ’ s great performance resonates onscreen — Mona Lisa learns a few things about life ’ s pleasures on the outside . A survivor , Bonnie is a wily , crafty , and scheming poledancing mama to an 11-year-old . Evan Whitten plays Charlie , whose rancor toward Mona tests Bonnie ’ s patience , particularly since she intends on keeping her golden goose around awhile . He and Mona ’ s uneasiness wane as they begin connecting , so when the big glitch occurs the pair take off on a lunar adventure .
The cast convincingly portrays distinctive personalities whose uniqueness and honesty shine through mixed with good ol ’ commonplace characters . Amirpour ’ s script is laced with wry humor and non-political correctitudes . Pawel Pogorzelski ’ s cinematographic angles and perspective take into consideration that there is more to what is shown than we are aware of , just as Taylor Levy ’ s editing has a sanguinely languid sharp quality . Brandon Tonner-Connolly ’ s production design embodies southern style . Daniele Lupp ’ s mesmeric music matches its environment ’ s personality . The only thing missing is Creedence Clearwater Revival ’ s “ Bad Moon Rising .” Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon is compelling and shows how big a heart can grow when set free . ( Marinell Haegelin )
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