Whit Stillman

Damsels in

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Distress

Words and design Avalon Lyndon

Before his 13-year break fromfilmmaking, indie darling Stillmanmade a name for himself with wrysatires on the chattering classes. Hisnew feature, Damsels in Distress,showsthathisdecade-and-a-bithiatushasn’t changed him much. Damselsis a strange beast and it’s certainlynot for everyone. Some will love itsquirky, offbeat whimsy, while otherswillhateitsunashamedlysnooty,self-consciouskookiness.Manywillendupfloatingaroundsomewhereinbetweenthese two camps. I’m with them. Taking place in a world and atimeallofitsown,DamselsinDistressfollowsavaguelydelusionalgroupofcardigan-toting moral crusaders whostroll the corridors of the fictional

Seven Oaks University, searchingout potential suicide cases andplying themwith doughnuts and taplessons in an attempt to keep themfrom “making themselves look bad.” AttheheadandtheheartofthiscrewisVioletWister(thephenomenalGreta Gerwig), a prim and properblonde with a superiority complex.Sucked into her cult of personalityare self-righteous catch-phraser Rose(MegalynEchikunwoke)andsweetbutstupid Heather (Carrie MacLemore).When they spot transfer student Lily(AnaleighTipton) lookinga little lost,

theyspyapotentialrecruittothecause. It’s a preposterous plot, but ifthere’s one thing you can say aboutStillman,it’sthathedoesn’tcaremuchfortoeingthepartyline.Damselsissetupasaseriesoftitle-cardedvignettes,so you rarely get the satisfaction offeeling the plot going anywhere.Instead, Stillman has created thisbizarre,out-of-stepworldand invitedus to stroll around in it. Its cultish,pastel-wardrobes fembotsarevaguelyreminiscent of The Stepford Wives,andnomatterhowridiculoustheline,it’sdeliveredwithapoker-straightface.

“Stillman has created this bizarre out-of-step world, and invited

“Stillman has created this bizarre out-of-step world, and invited

us to stroll around in it.”

A few love interests flash inand out of the picture, but thefocus here is really on the girls.The frat boys they associatewithhaven’tevenlearnedthecoloursyet. The reality of college life (orrather, the reality thatwehaveseeninthetypicalfilmsofthisgenre)hasbeen tweaked and remoulded intosomething a little off-centre. Thesemisfits, with their obsession withgoodhygieneandtapdancing,havemanaged to sneak their way to theupper echelons of college society. Two big musical numbers,including the premiere of Violet’snew international dance craze (theSambola, if you’re asking), closethe proceedings, and you’d beforgiven for squinting at the screenin confusion as the credits roll. Ittook me a while to process what Ithoughtabout it.Evennow, I’mstillnot completely sure. It’s definitelyenjoyable, if a little disorientating.Thecomedyissobizarrethatatpointsyoumightbelaughingwithoutreallyunderstanding why. One thing’s forsure: you’re going to have to makeyour own minds up on this one.

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