FILM Moonrise Kingdom showing in Westport

Moonrise Kingdom kicks off Westport Film Club’s new season


Shane Meehan

Westport Film Club’s new season begins with a screening of ‘Moonrise Kingdom’, a charming story set in 1960s small-town America. From the man who brought us the hoots that were ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ and ‘The Darjeeling Limited’ among others, director Wes Anderson’s latest work resonates with a similar quirkiness and is sure to leave its audience glowing from start to finish.
The story centres around two serious 12 year olds who have fallen in love, Sam (Jared Gilman) and Suzy (Kara Hayward), and it follows their escape from the rigours of his summer scout camp and her chaotic family into the wilderness of a New England summer.
Sam, an orphan, resembles a young Davy Crocket, complete with map and compass, out to conquer the unknown. Suzy, a sci-fi novel reader, brings the binoculars and tape player. The pandemonium that ensues within the community in search of the two reveals a star-studded cast whose performances reinforce themes ranging from the funny, deadpan and poignant, to the strange and at times outright daft.
Bill Murray and Frances McDormand play Suzy’s crisis-ridden parents, struggling to cope between their own self-pity at their crumbling marriage and concern for their missing daughter. Bruce Willis is a depressive police chief heading up the search, while Edward Norton plays a prim scout leader sporting shorts and stockings to the knee. Tilda Swindon appears as a steely social worker, and Jason Schwarzman pops up as another scout leader, Cousin Ben.
The scouts themselves hold ideals akin to most young boys, those loaded with guarded enthusiasm (as well as home made weapons) in the search for the renegade lovers.
The film’s success lies in the gentle elegance and genuine comedy with which the story is portrayed.
The backdrop, a New England summer landscape, evokes a nostalgia, common to us all, of young love, youthful meadow adventures on long sunny evenings and perhaps also of innocence lost. Coupled with a musical score of orchestra for kids mixed with off-beat country numbers, the viewer will do well not to raise a smile throughout. 

Shane Meehan is a member of Westport Film Club. ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ will be screened at Westport Cineplex on Wednesday, September 5, at 8.45pm. The club screens eight films a year at Westport Cineplex. Annual membership of €40 covers all screenings.  Entry to each film for non-members is €10.