A day in the life of an overworked and under-appreciated production assistant plays like a silent horror film as she becomes increasingly aware of her boss’s inappropriate transgressions – and the company’s feigned ignorance – in Kitty Green’s Sundance-selected feature, The Assistant.
The film’s protagonist, Jane (Julia Garner), is a reserved yet whip-smart young woman who endures verbal and emotional abuse within the culture of an unnamed NYC production company. As the film opens, it’s immediately clear that she is the backbone of the company, keeping the office running in a timely and orderly fashion. Despite her dedication to her position, the office environment is very much a “Boy’s Club.” She deals with the disparity by keeping to herself and excelling where she can, usually in solo office projects and menial tasks. But when water cooler gossip circulates that the boss is engaging in inappropriate acts with the company’s newest intern (Kristine Froseth), Jane is faced with the reality that speaking up for what’s right could risk her dreams of “making it” in the film industry.
Julia Garner (Ozark) quietly commands the film as Jane, her performance is steadily impressive and authentic. Co-star Matthew Macfadyen (Succession) plays the intentionally ignorant HR representative with his signature “nice guy” demeanor despite sneaky intentions. In a unique display (and much to my delight), The Assistant is very ASMR heavy. It’s a fairly quiet picture and largely dependent on setting up scenes with ambient sound and sound effects during Jane’s solitary moments. The deep cleaning, office equipment, and buzzing of florescent lights all add to the hyper-realistic nature of the story, really placing the audience in the office with Jane. Bare and constrained, the film’s soundtrack is also delicate, much like our protagonist. Composer Tamar-kali uses sparse piano sequences and strings to convey a sense of fragility. Director Kitty Green’s dedication to the ASMR aspect and absence of a large orchestral score is subtle and the perfect choice for this type of film.
The takeaway from The Assistant is a subtly gripping and timely portrait of power in the #MeToo/ Harvey Weinstein exposé era. But as the workplace culture of The Assistant shows, there is still a long way to go before toxic masculinity and improper balances of power are halted and support is given to those brave enough to bring powerful predators to conviction. Kitty Green’s defiant drama is the encouragement we need right now.
For more resources to delve deeper into the issues of workplace discrimination and abuse of power, please visit www.nywf.org/
THE ASSISTANT (2020)
Starring Julia Garner, Matthew Macfadyen, Makenzie Leigh
Directed by Kitty Green
Written by Kitty Green
Distributed by Bleecker Street Films. 85 minutes.
Opening in select theaters Friday, January 31, 2020.
