Joy de V
Cast: Evan Louison, Claudia Cardinale, Josephine de La Baume
Writer & DirectorL Nadia Szold
Making its world premiere at the 2013 Slamdance Film Festival is JOY de V. written and directed by Nadia Szold. Set in New York Joy de V follows Roman (Evan Louison) a small time con man who faked mental illness to collect a check, one day he wakes up and finds out the checks are about to stop and to top it off his seven months pregnant spouse Joy has vanished. What follows is 4 days of Roman encountering a multitude of characters, donning a priests dress cassock to act as a diversion for a burglary, sell some drugs, meet with Joys father and travel on foot throughout New York.
While Joy de V is beautifully shot and captures the essence of an older more nostalgic New York, the narrative is incoherent with Roman randomly losing track of looking for his wife, At one point taking time to get hammered on wine and sleep with an old friend. We learn early on that his wife has left her phone, later Roman is at home trying to call her even though they live together and we know the phone is there, its this type of nonsensical continuity that leaves you scratching your head.
Romans actions never convey a man who is desperately on the hunt for his wife. Never delving into his actual mental capacity nor offering any form of resolution on Joy’s whereabouts. Its a bleary eyed 4 day trip of New York.
Grade – 70
