Holy Motors Indeed

Holy Motors is not the type of film you should not walk in 30 minutes late to (like I did) because what you will be confronted with is severe nudity and a deep confusion that will not go away until the film ends. “Wait so is he a murderer? Oh no he’s an actor.”, “Is that Kylie Minogue?” were questions I and those around me whispered frantically to each other attempting to figure out the plot of this film. Thinking about it throughout the day I came to the conclusion that it is a comment on art and life, how we as humans are interchangeable. Through this constant confronting change, we as the audience question the point of the film, when maybe there was no obvious point. I personally enjoyed the different art forms it incorporated, such as singing, dancing and ensemble pieces, but I must admit I still am unsure of the point of utilizing so many different art forms.

Holy Motors reminds me of Epic Theatre in many ways. Bertolt Brecht said the main purpose of Epic Theatre was for the audience to always be aware they are watching a play, or in this specific case film. Brecht believed art should make audience question aspects of their life that they wouldn’t have questioned before the performance. Holy Motors, for me, falls into this category of questioning. The inconsistencies throughout the film, the constant character change kept me as an audience member on my metaphorical feet.Yet the consistencies, such as the car driver and the limousine kept me wondering if the film would amount to something and it would suddenly make sense. In a way, I am happy that it did not, because the perplexing ending was an almost comical ending to a confusingly beautiful movie.

I wouldn’t watch Holy Motors again and again, but it is a unique piece of art that I weirdly enjoyed.