Kajillionaire (2020)

Director: Miranda July
Stars: Evan Rachel Wood, Gina Rodriguez, Debra Winger
Runtime: 104 minutes

Synopsis: A woman's life is turned upside down when her criminal parents invite an outsider to join them on a major heist they're planning.

Verdict: When a couple of con artists invites a young woman to join them in their most daring heist yet, things start to get out of control for their daughter, who had been helping them in their crimes since her birth. No, I'm not talking about Koreeda Hirokazu's acclaimed drama "Shoplifters", but rather about the recently released festival darling "Kajillionaire", directed by Miranda July.

What I loved most about the feature is its ability to remain a light watch while remaining faithful to the heaviness of the protagonists' hardships. She's a complicated figure whose parents not only taught her how to lie to make a living, but also went on to steal her childhood, and with it her emotions and tenderness. They named her Old Dolio after the winner of a lottery in the hopes to get some of his winnings, and you can tell throughout the movie that she's trapped in a bubble from which she's unable to escape, that she's lacking emotional support from every member of her limited entourage, making her situation all the more heartbreaking to witness. The movie's odd subject was mirrored in its tone and performances, which were all solid overall except for Evan Rachel Wood's deepened voice that I found to be distracting. Combined, these factors give the film a personality that makes it entertaining to sit through despite a few soapy moments sprinkled here and there.

"Kajillionaire" is not the type of movie that will resonate with general audiences as suggested by its 46% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, if movies with a bizarre tone and a light approach to heavy themes are your thing, I do recommend checking it out.

FINAL GRADE: 6/10