"The Invitation" brings discomfort amid laughter by exposing desire and hypocrisy
The comedy "O Convite" opens this Thursday (9) in Brazilian cinemas. Considered one of the best releases of the year, the production had its first screening at the Sundance Festival in January and led to a dispute between distributors.
A24, known for productions such as "Aftersun" and "Vidas Passadas", was the one who won the fight by paying more than US$ 12 million (around R$ 51 million) for the rights in the USA, surpassing companies like Neon and the new Warner Bros. label, Clockworth, according to specialized vehicles in the country. In Brazil, distribution is by O2 Play.
The comedy puts Olivia Wilde back in the spotlight in Hollywood, after the controversial "Don't Worry, Honey" (2022). She not only directs, but also stars in the comedy alongside Edward Norton ("Fight Club"), Penélope Cruz ("Vicky Cristina Barcelona") and Seth Rogen ("Knocked Up").
Based on a script by Will McCormack ("If Something Happens... I Love You") and Rashida Jones ("Parks and Recreation"), Wilde creates an atmosphere of discomfort while making the audience laugh at the dynamics and hypocrisy of two couples who meet for dinner.
Angela and Joe welcome Hawk and Pinã into their large, cozy apartment - which becomes the subject of one of the best dialogues in the film and is what motivates the meeting between this quartet.
They have been married for almost two decades. Hank and Piña have been dating for a year. Perhaps this information already explains such a difference in the dynamics and dealings between the two couples.
In Edward Norton's view, his character and Cruz have already gone through the phase that the hosts are going through, so they appear to have a better relationship.
"Joe and Angela are being exposed to something overnight, but you discover that Hawke and Pina have gone through their own versions of needing to change," he said in an interview with CNN Brasil.
Desire and hypocrisy
At one point in the film, Angela comments that she and her husband don't usually receive people at home, so everything they experience there seems unprecedented, especially the dynamics and revelation of Piña and Hawk.
A parallel reality of a 40-year-old couple is revealed in the faces of the hosts, who exude guilt and dissatisfaction with each other. What was a dinner turns into a kind of couples therapy and fantasy desire.
The neighbors are initially presented to the viewer as noisy, which bothers Joe and Angela. The moment they tell the reason, the hypocrisy appears while generating fascination. "It's the best day of my life," says Angela.
On the other hand, the scenario exposes the problems ignored by the couple. The look of admiration, perplexity and the desire to please at a given moment turns into relief, when Hawk and Piña have a disagreement.
"It's one of the things I really admire about what Olivia did. She really pushed us to look a little deeper, look at what inspires change in everyone. I think that's what complements it to make them more human," Norton said.
"Precision Pilots"
To support a film with just four characters in a single setting, Olivia needed good direction, a good soundtrack and a good cast.
The cast alone is already attracting attention: an actor nominated four times for an Oscar, one of the main names in American comedy, one of the main Latin and sensual icons in Hollywood and a director and actress on the rise.
"The question is really who is going to bring a story to life, which is even more risky when the story never changes time or space. We never leave the room - that is, the apartment -, we never move in time", said Olivia Wilder in an interview with CNN Brasil.
"It was as if you had to hire precision drivers to be able to take these turns and never, ever lose track of this very specific rhythm that needed to be matched and sustained, and that is simply not for the faint of heart," he added.
Watch the trailer for "The Invitation"
THE INVITATION | Official Trailer | July 9th in Cinemas
Source: CNN