Palindromes is the latest addition to the freak show that is Todd Solondz. His films have progressively gotten stranger and less accessible and this one feels almost like a big F--- U to everyone that had a problem with the Cerebral Palsy sufferer, inter-racial rough sex and homicidal immigrant maid in "Storytelling". As you will know doubt read about, the lead role of "Palindromes", Aviva, is played by a variety of different actresses, from a 13 year old Jewish girl to a 400 pound black woman and everything in between. The main conflict of this shape-shifting young lady is that she wants a baby, much to the chagrin of her painfully optimistic mom and dad. This disagreement leads Aviva on a cross country road trip in search of a daddy to her as yet unborn child. Many important points are raised about individual freedoms, abortion, the right to life etc... but the film cannot escape the fact that is looks horrible. It is perhaps the worst photographed film I have seen in a long time. If this ugliness was the choice of Mr. Solondz it is a shame, because it distracts from the rest of the film. If it wasn't his choice than someone has some explaining to do.
Review of Palindromes
