Charming Homage to Single Motherhood
A simple story with unique, engaging characters, Margarita Happy Hour is an impressive feature debut for Ilya Chaiken. Set against the backdrop of Brooklyn, New York, a handful of young single moms are followed as they try to support themselves and each other through their acceptance of not being viral and dangerous anymore. It poignantly articulates this transitional phase in every day life by juxtaposing a perfect mix of flashbacks, everyday living, a sprinkle of dream sequences and three-dimensional characters that are easy to relate to.
Eleanor Hutchins stars as Zelda, a late 20’s freelance illustrator with a two-year-old daughter, living with her well meaning but flawed boyfriend Max (Larry Fessenden) and seven other roommates to get by. She is stuck drawing porn magazines and desperately hopes that she doesn’t fall into a redundant circle of life. She misses the days of being a scene-stealer but still appreciates rolling around with her daughter at night in their tiny bedroom.
She tries to help her best friend Natali (Holly Ramos) survive her post almost death experience from heavy drug use. Once a week or so, she meets up with other single moms that were fellow partiers, and their infants for Happy Hour, where margaritas are $2 a pop. The group aren’t the best role models but they are also more responsible then they ever considered possible just a few years before. This setting serves a much needed outlet to let loose about their stress, getting older, and other transitions in life.
Simple? Yes, but this bare bones script is what makes the interactions so cleverly strong. It isn’t necessary to concentrate on specific plot devices because watching the characters themselves is interesting enough. It’s also a side of motherhood rarely captured in films, naturally imperfect but impossible to scrutinize in their situations. They may kick back to have a few drinks and shed cursory words, but their protective instincts are still their first motivation. The filmmaker is a single mother herself, which allows the intelligence with which these experiences are dealt with shine through the screen.
In fact, the issue of motherhood is the central change dealt with through the character of Zelda. Though Zelda had chosen to keep the unplanned pregnancy, getting used to the changes inherent isn’t easy. The child is never blamed for the difficulties Zelda encounters, though it is clearly Little Z who brought them about. Though she might sleep through the crying every now and then, Zelda is also an affectionate mother and as a matter of course betrays her consistently altering needs to take care of this adorable little creation. In other movies of this genre, melodramatic scenes are usually thrown in for the purpose of painstaking revelation of new parenthood taking its toll. Instead, Little Z incites a wonderful balance of stress and delight in her parents. It doesn’t hurt that the baby is extremely photogenic and responsive to the adults carrying her around.
Latest Articles