In Adopting Audrey, Audrey is a call centre worker who feels stuck in a rut. Her most recent relationship has soured, life is less than thrilling, and even the electric in her apartment has given up on her, due to the non-payment of bills.
After being fired from her latest job, Audrey finds herself in need of some new direction. And much to her surprise, this new direction materialises while she’s watching online videos about adult adoption.
These videos inspire Audrey to reach out to an older family who are looking to reconnect with the younger generation. It’s here that she meets Otto and his partner Sunny, who live together with Otto’s elderly mother.
Otto and Sunny are a similar age to Audrey’s parents, and as she doesn’t have a relationship with her own mum and dad, they become suitable alternatives. But Otto is a tough nut to crack, and getting him to accept her as a surrogate daughter may take some work.
Written and directed by Michael Cahill, and loosely based on a true story, Adopting Audrey is a drama which stars Jena Malone, Robert Hunger-Bühler, and Emily Kuroda. The movie is being screened at this year’s Glasgow Film Festival (March 1st – March 12th), allowing audiences to catch it on the big screen, and arrives on digital download in the UK from March 13th.
Whether you catch Adopting Audrey at the festival, or you watch it from the comfort of your own home, be sure to take a look. The film is a touching account of one woman’s desire to find her place in the world, and the challenges she encounters as she attempts to navigate other people’s thoughts and feelings.
Adopting Audrey looks at generational differences, dysfunctional families, and the importance of belonging. It features solid writing, smart direction, great performances, and a message about human connections.
Jena Malone takes on the title character, playing Audrey as a thirty-something woman who has bobbed and weaved her way through life, never making any lasting relationships. She’s nearing middle age, she’s reached a point when self-reflection takes over, and this is finally driving her forward in an unexpected way.
When Audrey meets Otto, this becomes a real catalyst for change. In Otto, Audrey finds a kindred spirit, who also needs a little push in life, and this becomes the first time in a while that she feels like she belongs to something bigger than herself.
This all makes for an interesting watch, but it is also a concept that is relatable. I’m sure many of us will have spent a number of years drifting through life, sometimes existing on the fringes, before ‘something’ comes along to pull us back in, and this movie is a reflection of this.
The ‘something’ in this case is Otto, as played to absolute perfection by Robert Hunger-Bühler. Otto is a gruff, standoffish type of guy, who seems trapped by his own inability to emote, but he’s well-meaning at heart and Hunger-Bühler ensures this lighter aspect of his character comes through in his performance.
The combination of Malone and Hunger-Bühler works very well on screen, and they become the driving force of this picture. The two actors bring something special to this father/daughter relationship and this becomes one of the key aspects of the movie.
At times, the relationship between Audrey and Otto reminded me of a similar one depicted in the recent, but unrelated Tom Hanks movie, A Man Called Otto. The film plays out differently to this one, and approaches its material from an alternate angle, but it shares a few ideas and character traits, and both are about the importance of human connections and communication.
I mention A Man Called Otto because of the similarities, but also because both films are very likeable pictures. If you have already watched A Man Called Otto, then I suggest you take a look at Adopting Audrey, as I believe it would make a suitable companion piece.
I also recommend you take a look at Adopting Audrey as it is simply a very good film. It carries an emotional weight and depth throughout, which is where the tone mostly remains, but it’s not afraid to throw in the occasional bit of humour or quirk when needed, to lighten the load.
All-in-all, Adopting Audrey tells an engaging and intriguing story, which opens up a conversation about families, life, and everything in between. It highlights the invisible barriers that exist between people, which often separate us, but which can also be overcome, if you the right person comes along at the right time.
The film doesn’t offer any concrete solutions to anything, and for some it may end a little abruptly, but it stimulates thoughts, ideas, and engagement. The picture sets out to show what happens when you come to a crossroads in life, and how that crossroads can take you in a whole new direction.
It all comes together rather nicely, and I expect some people may feel inspired by some of its themes. As for others, I believe they will simply appreciate it for what it is: A thoughtful, likeable picture.
__
Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
It's A Stampede! 
Leave a Reply