I think what is most impressive about low-budget and independent films is the fearless approach to sincerely portraying complex human intricacies that are specific to a niche set of people. The cast, crew, director, and producers are so grounded, willing risk losing the audience for a stab at creating sympathy and feeling- a difficult enough venture in itself. The raw honesty is etched into each creative decision, and when properly approached, can capture those indescribable feelings that are so difficult to transcribe to film. Safety Not Guaranteed, the latest small-scale darling of Sundance Film Festival, manages to do just that.
Darius, an emotionally crippled, off-color intern at Seattle Magazine, is summoned by her boss Jeff to explore the a classified ad seeking a time-traveling partner. Kenneth, the time traveler, rejects Jeff’s proposal to work together but seems warily fond of Darius. Soon, she echoes his sentiment, and the crew begins to question the validity of their previous perception of Kenneth.
Clocking in at just 1 hour and 24 minutes, it’s a feat how compact Safety is. Outside of the focal story, we see Jeff rekindle an old love and abandon his defensive arrogance, an apt means of echoing the theme of vulnerability within the Darius and Kenneth storyline. With that, Safety Not Guaranteed provides an abundance of sociologically poignant scenes. It’s a moving and thought-provoking portrayal of conflicting faith, vulnerability, and the struggle for social integration contextualized within entertaining book-ends. The ensemble grabs the audience to ache and celebrate with Darius and company, manipulating our feelings to correspond with the screen to a T.
This is made possible by truly taut film-making. Each element is so carefully attended to; the story is fueled by adrenaline, heartbreak, and aching laughter, without any lapse in tonal shift. The orchestraic soundrack enlivens the scenes, dancing off the intensity of the action and decisive camera-work. Speaking of, Safety demonstrates the apt professional and brutal realism that small-scale camera work can manipulate over studio technique. The delicate sun-stained framework of Aubrey Plaza’s hair, the angles that burst and leap with wild veracity, and focused jump cuts are drawn from an array of film inspirations yet cohesively executed.
Speaking of Aubrey Plaza, she knocks this film out of the park, largely due to exceptional executive casting decisions. Her insecure disposition is at once identifiable, heart-warming, and crushing; the movie is tailored to her strengths. As she is figuratively reborn as the film progresses, engrossing herself in blind optimism, the audience is able to see Plaza burst apart and come to life.
What makes Safety so magical is its firm grounding in the ideology in a need to devolve. Recall the “childhood awe” of Disney, Santa Claus, wishes, “reaching for the stars”- Safety revels in the sanctity of simply having faith regardless of outcome. Whether or not Kenneth can time travel becomes arbitrary – we become more consumed by his spritely warmth spreading like wildfire. Safety also sooks with understanding at those who simply don’t fit in, and the unconventional yet wild relationships that spawn from alienated people being drawn to one another. Safety scoffs at generic couplings of the modern romance in favor of real chemistry forged by the act of letting one’s guard down.
It all cumulates to a finale that reminds us what it feels like to believe in the impossible; wild hope, fiery love, and taking a chance at seeking out the unknown. It reminded me of the conclusion of 2004’s indie classic Garden State, a natural evolution of character combined with the exciting question of what happens next. And like darlings Garden State and (500) Days of Summer, Safety Not Guaranteed is an underdog triumph that succeeds in doing what all movies hope to do but so few are successful at; just feel something real.
Grade: A
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