levelFILM Film Review - Mouthpiece

Conceived as a work of performance art for the stage Mouthpiece staring Amy Nostbakken and Norah Sadava follows two actresses playing the same part simultaneously in the 48 hours leading up to the funeral of Cassie's mother Elaine. The pair of actresses reprise their roles from the stage, moving in unison, sweeping their hair at the same moment, dressed alike dragging a scarf behind them in parallel while they swap out turns dealing with life. Short Cassandra (Sadava) comforts brother Danny (Jake Epstein) when he comes the morning after the death. Both hook up with an old boyfriend for a quick romp to clear the mind alternating between doing the deed each critiquing the other's performance from a chair beside the bed.

The key theme examined is the marginalized role of women in today's society. Mother Elaine (Maev Beaty) had to take be the main caregiver to Cassie and her brother Danny. In flashbacks we see young Cassie (Taylor Belle Puterman) catching glimpses of her mom's failures. Loosing out on an editing/ writing opportunity, dunking her journal filled with hopes and dreams into a half full crockpot of cream soup burring her dreams in a vessel of motherly duties. There is a clip of Ruth Bater Ginsberg  proclaiming that nothing will change unless the next generation of men takes on a greater role in child rearing. Plus a call from her dad who tells young Cassie to say goodbye to her mom as he is busy doing very important things away on business that will keep him out of town longer than expected.

Sadava and Nostbakken know the material and characters well having authored the source material. Sometimes the pair move, act and speak as one. While at other junctures they argue, push each other and on a couple of occasions come to blows. The production plays off this duality. One telling scene in a fitting room trying on nylons turns into eight versions of the character fueled by mirror reflections as the leads discuss Mom's eating habits. The pair are often also dressed alike, except for one pivotal moment when Tall Cassandra (Nostbakken) dons a sweater mom gives Cassie a to wear at Christmas that is truly not her.

Mouthpiece is a bold experiment to bring an out of the ordinary play to the big screen. The project works due to the efforts of the four women at the centre of the cast. Nostbakken and Sadava alongside director Patricia Rozema and cinematographer Catherine Lutes who play up the duality on screen leaving the audience guessing at the relationship between the two leads even the prospect of one being real and the other imagined.

*** 1/2 Out of 4.

Mouthpiece | Patricia Rozema | Canada | 2019 | 91 Minutes.

Tags: Stroke, Funeral, Psyche, Eulogy, Divorce, Sexism, Bath, Christmas Party, Nylons, French Fries.