Introduction
Below Her Mouth is a Canadian movie released in 2016 that is a romantic drama and it was directed by April Mullen. Writing credits go to Stephanie Fabrizi. Due to having a female director, a female writer, and a largely female production team, this film was able to achieve a unique perspective that has seldom been told in film. Focused on love and identity interconnected by emotional awakening, it aims to shed light on stories that are rarely told in film.
Although romance forms a part of this film, it is more a story on self-discovery, of a woman who, through a unique connection, begins to dismantle the life she already architected in order to discover something deeper within herself.
Plot Summary (Clean Version)
Jasmine is a successful fashion editor who has everything figured out and has a stable life, sitting in the predictably stable future as she is engaged. Ends up being Under the surface, this begins to make uncertain the condition of whether the roads being tread beats the authentic self.
One evening, she meets Dallas, a roof worker who is confident and lives life on her own terms. Compromising is not a part of her self. She is strongly self-identified. Their first meeting always is with an impression and Dallas is not left behind.“`
In the following days, Jasmine feels an attraction growing toward Dallas. The two start hanging out, and Jasmine feels pleasantly surprised at how easy and liberating their bond is. Dallas pushes Jasmine to reframe her reality—does she want her life, or is it a construct of engrained social expectation and monotony?
As their relationship develops, Jasmine endures a conflict. She has a safe, orderly life with her fiancé, and, at the same time, goes with Dallas, which is a gamble. She has a chance to break through the illusion of herself and her life and embrace the authenticity she has long been craving.
The film captures Jasmine’s emotional evolution and the reality she is forced to confront. In the end, it is not about the “battle” between two people anymore. Rather, the objective is to consciously choose an absence of self deception.
Main Characters
Jasmine (Natalie Krill): An editor for a fashion magazine. Jasmine appears to have it all in life yet has a complex and hidden a conundrum that deeply questions her identity. The journey to self realization requires courage.
Dallas (Erika Linder): A free spirit and bold self, she is a roofer. The initiator of Jasmine’s self discovery, Dallas is a quintessential confident and bold woman.
Rile (Sebastian Pigott): Jasmine’s fiancé. His character symbolizes the stability and the life Jasmine has, up to this point, built. Rile’s character accentuates a planned future and the uncertain, yet authentic, life path Jasmine is drawn to.
Secondary Characters: Friends and associates offer Jasmine’s and Dallas’ worlds a glimpse, as well as providing, at times, encouragement and tension.
Themes and Their Significance
- Self Discovery
The main theme of Below Her Mouth is the concept of self-identity. In Jasmine’s case, she needs to determine if, indeed, she is living her life or simply existing as a result of other people’s decisions.
- Authenticity vs Expectation
Rile and Jasmine’s relationship is predicated on a presumed level of comfort and security, but that may be her reality. The film tries to encourage individuals to ask the questions: In making a decision, is it based on the reality of what you want or what you have been conditioned to want?
- The Willingness to Accept Change
Willingness to accept certain facets of the life one is living, even if it is deemed as successful, is tough. Jasmine’s case is an example of how transformative the process of acknowledging, and confronting, these uncomfortable truths can be.
- Freedom of Expression
Dallas embodies freedom, be it with regards to her way of life or how she expresses herself. Her character demonstrates the power that lies in self-acceptance and living without standards.
- Love as a Catalyst for Growth
There is romance in the story but its greater meaning is how love can motivate someone to find themselves and overcome their self-imposed limitations.
Cinematography and Style
Below Her Mouth is stunning from a visual perspective. The film employs warm colors in conjunction with natural lighting to establish a surrounding of closeness and realism. Much of the film is silent and reflective, giving weight to the characters’ emotional states.
Having a nearly female only production team affects the film’s visual narration. The camera does not concern itself with grandiosity, but rather the emotional states of the characters. Every frame is constructed to evoke feelings of openness, intimacy, and connection.
The film also employs silence and other more subtle sounds to give the viewer a greater appreciation of Jasmine and Dallas’ unspoken words, facial expressions, and body language.
Reception
Critics were divided on the film’s release. While some focused on the emotional depth, lack of narative complexity and unique production team, and bold storytelling was praised by others. However, nearly all were in agreement about the film’s identity regarding self-discovery and authenticity.
No less notable was Erika Linder’s performance with critics who remarked Dallas as ‘confident and commanding’. Natalie Krill also was noted for her ability to relate Jasmine, and the character’s palpable internal conflict with tenderness and depth.
The film was able to transcend the lack of conventional acclaim and was able to touch audiences with its poignant themes of identity, bravery, and emotional authenticity.
Impact And Significance
The production of Below Her Mouth is an almost the case study of the significance of the film’s story. The recruitment of a virtually all female creative team provided the film with a perspective for the story that is all too often neglected, and contributed greatly to the film’s compelling authenticity.
The film also stimulated the conversation with the most profound of the themes, to what extent, and in what ways, a woman’s self realization is liberated in the context of a loving relationship. To offer a suggestion, her perspective is that relationships involve more than modern notion self and the other, they also offer rich opportunities for deeper self interrogation
Conclusion
Beneath Her Mouth is a film that was released in 2016, and I do not see it as a mere romance. I feel it is a more profound story of bravery and self revelation anchored to the character of Jasmine who embodies the ideal of living life with her whole heart, even for the most difficult and constricting truths of her reality.
Dallas, as a character, serves the dual purpose of a romantic interest and a representation of liberty, demonstrating to Jasmine the importance of remaining true to oneself, regardless of the consequences. Their bond constitutes attraction, but more so, it is about the blossoming realization of one’s true essence.
Below Her Mouth is particularly memorable because of its insightful thematic content, impressive cinematography, and touching performances. The film is also a reference to self-discovery and, as a result, will resonate with individuals who have struggled with living authentically. It encourages its audience to embrace a more personal approach to life as it is often deeply fulfilling to diverge from set expectations.
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