Watching Andrew Bujalski’s new film Beeswax, you feel like a fly on the wall, observing real people living their lives. Their conversations aren’t polished, they don’t always look perfect. Sometimes you’re not quite sure what’s going on, or what might happen next. This approach draws you in, and before you know it, you’re on the edge of your seat.
Bujalski doens’t use professional actors, but the performances are powerful — particularly from Tilly Hatcher, who plays Jeannie, the owner of a vintage clothing store. She shows great range, and a restraint that keeps a lot of her emotions unsaid, but communicated through her facial expressions.
Beeswax opens in New York today, with other cities to follow.