In William Oldroyd’s “Eileen,” the audience is immersed in the grim reality of Eileen’s life in a small Massachusetts town. The decay and destitution that surround her world take an unexpected turn with the arrival of Dr. Rebecca St. John, portrayed by Anne Hathaway as a vision of sophistication. The film, deliberately lacking voiceover, allows Eileen’s enigmatic perspective to guide the narrative. Her abrupt and messy transformation challenges conventional expectations and resonates with the cinematic portrayals of loneliness from the 1970s. Thomasin McKenzie’s portrayal of Eileen is multifaceted, rejecting conventional likability for emotional dislocation and untapped potential. Hathaway’s Rebecca adds an electrifying dynamic to the film, exploring a relationship with dangerously blurred boundaries. “Eileen” stays true to Ottessa Moshfegh’s novel, embracing filth and ugliness for a wintry narrative that defies expectations. Visit my flixer for more!
