Morgane is a 26-year-old woman in Brussels who is having difficulty moving forward in life. She still lives at home with her mother; she hasn't finished her studies; her love life isn't much more than a series of one-night stands. Most of the time, Morgane wafts through life and seems fine with things. But during a meet-up with her school friends, she is confronted with how they have built adult lives for themselves -- and realizes she must make a hard choice about her future as well. Directed and written by Michael Abay, this beautifully observed dramatic short is a character portrait of a young woman who feels out of step with her peers and the world around her. The film's title is a slang term in Brussels that refers to an adult who lives at home with their parents or someone who can't "get on" in life. The narrative focuses on how Morgane wrestles with this as her deepest fear while also feeling ambivalent about the path in front of her.
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We first meet Morgane as she wakes up with the latest of her one-night romances. She makes her way home, which she shares with her loving, kindhearted mother. The opening sequence, shot with a naturalistic, almost documentary-like eye, takes its time observing Morgane, immersing us in the tempo of her personality and the textures of her life, from how she ignores the stares of people in the train station during her "walk of shame" to the steady affection of her mother, who seems to sense her daughter's existential uneasiness but doesn't press her on it. Actor Jennifer Heylen's beautifully subtle, unaffected performance seems placid at first, though we get subtle hints that she feels ambiguous about her life. The internal conflict takes time to come to the fore, but it's heightened when Morgane makes her way to a brunch picnic with her friends. The excellent writing foregrounds the distance between seemingly aimless Morgane and her more accomplished friends, who talk about mortgages, careers, future kids and stable relationships. At first Morgane is silent and makes jokes, but a deeper conversation with her close friend reveals more on her mind. It also reveals an opportunity for Morgane to take the next step into a more grown-up life, but the decision also heightens her anxieties. She knows it's an ideal step for her. But KLETTE reveals its compassion as she makes her choice, and it is emotionally nuanced in shading that choice with some difficult questions. Is she conforming to what's expected of her by society? Is she scared or anxious of going down a path she's not certain of? Or is she paralyzed by the project of adulthood in general? Anyone who has ever felt out of sync with the world around them -- and perhaps not quite "sold" on what that path promises -- will find much to resonate within this finely honed, gently perceptive short.
