"What kind of bird are you?"
It’s 1965 and pre teen pen pals, Sam (Jared Gilman) and Suzy
(Kara Heyward) agree to run away from home and meet up a year after meeting for
the first time. While the two of them head off into the wilderness of Suzy’s
twelve mile long home island a search party that includes Island Policeman
Bruce Willis, Scout leader Edward Norton, Suzy’s parents Bill Murray and Frances
McDormand and Sam’s fellow Scouts set about trying to hunt the eloping children
down in the days preceding a huge storm.
I should say from the outset that I am a huge Wes Anderson
fan and have absolutely loved all of his films with the exception of Fantastic Mr Fox so I went in expecting
great things. My expectations were matched and even perhaps exceeded. I loved
this film. Anderson
sets up Suzy’s home life in a fantastic opening sequence which features some exquisite
tracking shots through the family home. Before anything is said it is already
obvious to the audience that Suzy is a loner who longs for something bigger,
something more. Her parents do not get on and are never even seen in the same
room, let alone talking to each other. She has three younger brothers who
appear to get along very well. Her house is large and well furnished,
indicating wealth if not happiness. All of this is established in one long
sequence of beautiful camera movements which last no longer than a couple of
minutes. Sam’s life with his Scout troupe is shown in a similar manner although
it soon becomes apparent that he has already escaped in search of his love,
Suzy.