Fantasia '19 Film Review - 1BR

Sarah (Nicole Brydon Bloom) has moved to L.A. for a fresh start. She has a talent sketching and sewing planning to take a course locally to hone her craft and make new contacts. She is staying in a motel room, her Dad regularly calling her to come home believing that she does not have a solid plan. She works as a temp in a law firm for the worst kind of boss one who blames her mistakes on her subordinates and drops urgent projects on them at the last minute. She learns of a one-bedroom apartment available that would be perfect for her needs. Sarah goes to the open house almost walking out immediately seeing the number of interested parties. She is encouraged to stay by the Manager Jerry (Terry Nichols) who helps her to fill out the application where she gets stuck on the no pets question. Sarah gets the place, is warmly greeted by the residents who are more like a community especially handsome next-door neighbour Brian (Giles Matthey) who always seems to pop out of his apartment as she is walking past.

However, the dream apartment is not as advertised. At night the pipes creak and knock leaving her sleep deprived. Peculiar tenant Lester (Clayton Hoff) keeps staring at her from afar and she begins to get anonymous messages reminding her of the no pet policy meaning  that someone knows she smuggled in her pet cat Gyles. Plus everyone seems to have a copy of the book The Power of Community, that emphasizes Selflessness, Openness, Acceptance, and Security. The reality of the situation hits Sarah hard one night when she awakes to a burning smell and noise inside her apartment. The Asilo Del Mar residence are not as expected nor is their version of Community.

Director David Marmor researched many Groups / Utopian communities in crafting the story. L.A. is a breeding ground for them as many people escape to the city looking for a new beginning. Many may have left a trauma behind making them vulnerable to these entities. Here, Sarah is trying to put as much distance as she can between her and her father who cheated on her dying mom with the treating nurse. The tenents of these communities are a tool used to wedge the individual away from their family, friends, former life and into a state where the Group becomes their whole world.

1BR is an exercise that is autobiographical for Marmor. He moved to L.A. in his twenties, lacking confidence, entering a world that his parents didn't understand giving pause as he walked around waving to new faces. These groups are out there for the lost and traumatized. Scooping up new recruits each day disappearing them from their families and loved ones.

*** Our of 4.

1BR | David Marmor | U.S.A. | 2019 | 90 Minutes.

Tags: Los Angeles, Open House, Temp, Utopian, Community, Tennents, Brainwashing, Feline.