MOVIE: The Tracey Fragments (2007)

The Tracey Fragments
2007
direction: McDonald, B.
screenplay: Medved, M.

quickie:
Just a normal fifteen-year-old girl who hates herself.

general impression:
Possibly one of those love / hate things.

lows:
Some might find the split-screen either pretentious, stupid or pointless.

highs:
People who are uncomfortable in their skin – no matter what age – might find themselves relating, the editing is remarkable, solid performance from Ellen Page.

notes:

To be honest, I checked this out because I truly enjoyed Ellen Page as Juno. Upon checking what other people said about this movie, I didn’t really have high hopes when someone said Ellen Page as Tracey Berkowitz is like a less happy Juno MacGuff with a lot of issues.

Fortunately, that was wrong.

The movie is not for everyone. I’m still at odds as to how to feel about the split-screen but I actually liked it. I was, however, wondering exactly who she was speaking to inside the bus as she curses over and over. It’s also long and people without patience and who don’t like the topic might simply give up on the movie.

But if you can manage to sit through the movie and you’re like me, you’ll probably enjoy it very much.

If you have never felt like Tracey Berkowitz, then you’re very lucky. I don’t how people will interpret this but The Tracey Fragments is like Mean Girls, only it’s sad and unfortunate. The boxes either reflect the containment that Tracey feels or the many things that make up an event. As I watched the movie, it felt like even though we hear Tracey’s anger, the blame for what is happening (be it Sonny’s disappearance for Tracey’s eventual fate) is divided among everybody. It’s not just the neglect, it’s not just bullying, it’s not just Tracey. It’s everybody.

As I said, the movie is not something everyone will enjoy. I didn’t exactly ‘enjoy’ it but I have to say that it is good. I don’t think that it’s a pretentious, experimental art film but I suppose you have to make your own call.

FINAL RATING:
[3] out of [5]