Jump, Darling was Cloris Leachman’s final on-screen performance, and it is hard to believe that she was in her 90s during filming. Her eyes sparkle with the wit, beauty and brilliance of her extraordinary and majestic career. BFI Flare presents Jump, Darling, arriving in selected theatres on March 11th 2022.
The suicide of a loved one leaves a lasting, painful mark, no matter how long ago it took place; sometimes, the life of that loved one remains shrouded in mystery, the memories associated with their passing too painful for words due to unresolved guilt or confusion among those they left behind. Philip J. Connell’s assured feature debut not only tackles these delicate and sensitive issues with care but wraps them in a touching and engaging story of love, loss, endings and new beginnings.
Russell (Thomas Duplessie) has just left his long-term boyfriend after a disagreement on the artistic direction of his career as a struggling actor – his drag creation of ‘Fishy Falters’ at the heart of the conflict. So armed with just a few bags, no money and a couple of bottles of scotch, Russell heads out of Toronto and into the Canadian countryside. His destination is his grandmother’s house, where his late grandfather’s car awaits his arrival.
Russell’s plan is simple: collect the car and drive as far away from his previous life as possible, leaving behind his boyfriend, ‘Fishy Falters,’ and his old city life. However, on arrival, Russell finds his grandmother (Cloris Leachman) frail, her memory fading in and out of the past and present.
Meanwhile, the house around her has slipped into disrepair as she struggles to clean, cook and take care of her sprawling home. Russell’s mother (Linda Kash) visits once a week as she attempts to persuade her mum to move into a residential home. But all the same, Russell can’t help but feel guilty for the lack of attention he has paid to his grandmother throughout his life in the city. Therefore, he adjusts his plans and agrees to stay with the feisty Margaret for a few days before embarking on his road trip. But sometimes life has other plans, ones you can’t foresee when you are in a hurry to escape.
Connell’s film is wrapped in the complexity of the sudden diversions that appear in our lives when we least expect them. Some of these diversions are easy to navigate, but others offer multiple routes and decisions. Despite the complexity of the themes and issues presented in Jump, Darling, Connell’s movie is far from heavy in its atmosphere; instead, we are offered a funny, tender and light film that wraps you in a comforting blanket through the exceptional performances of Duplessie and Leachman.
Jump, Darling was Cloris Leachman‘s final on-screen performance, and it is hard to believe that she was in her 90s during filming. Her eyes sparkle with the wit, beauty and brilliance of her extraordinary and majestic career. Leachman steals the show alongside the equally brilliant Thomas Duplessie, their heartwarming relationship both believable and sincere.
Meanwhile, the upbeat pop score and colourful cinematography lighten the mood as deep themes of loss and heartbreak ripple beneath the surface. The result is a bold and beautiful exploration of family, rebirth, and closure that stays with you long after the credits roll.
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