Stuck on the Corner of Hope

Stuck on the Corner of Hope is a slightly difficult film to reckon with. It’s a 38-minute-long drama which packs in a great many ideas and conflicts, but thematically never feels as elegant as it should. It tells the story of a man whose partner is revealed to have a terminal illness – he then proposes to her, confirming his love for her and his emotional support for her situation. Except – cut to a year later, and our protagonist has fallen out of love with his lovely wife. Not only has he fallen out of love, but he now seems to actively resent her presence in his life, even when it doesn’t appear to be so taxing. But the truth is that he’s in love with another woman, which gets even more complicated when it turns out his wife is pregnant. What a piece of work this guy is!

Let’s speak a little regarding tone since this film cannot quite pick a lane. It could have had a little of the thematic resonance of Michael Haneke’s Amour in which we see the psychological toll taken on the carer of a loved one. Or, alternatively as opposed to realism, it could have completely leaned into its satirical sensibilities and gone full on Le Bonheur with an ironically vibrant, poetic depiction of male ego. The film’s fluctuating tone can’t quite handle either, which is a real shame because the two main performers demonstrate that they can evoke those different styles of acting.

There’s some undeniably adept filmmaking on show here. The camerawork is sharp and slick. There’s also a clever use of colour grading which evokes a kind of dour French thriller feel. Other strengths include the blocking and lighting – all quite professionally executed. Surprisingly enough, the audio is almost flawless and, in terms of the sound design, goes technically unnoticed.

I’d like to commend the filmmakers for attempting to deconstruct the yucky, self-destructive nature of our protagonist’s persona. The ending ties together his ironic fate in a satisfying manner which leaves the viewer with a positive impression of the story – and yet to get to that point at minute 37, we’ve had to suffer with this guy who, unfortunately, gives us little reason to care about his perspective. All the strength lies in it being a cautionary tale, but if interpreted the wrong way could be taken as quite the mean-spirited movie.

Despite its many strengths regarding the sound, cinematography and performances, there is something very unnatural about Stuck on the Corner of Hope. As an audience member, you’re certainly taken on a journey – through its many twists and turns – but it’s hard to know whether said audience would remain emotionally engaged. Though, in a sense, this film is opting for a more Brechtian, objective spectator experience; heightened personas in morally compromising or questionable situations. It’s unfortunate, therefore, that the script lacks a level of complexity, and the tone lacks consistency, to fully pull off this ambitious feat. Even still, this is a well-made, technically competent movie.