Rent Carrie Pilby (2016)

Carrie Pilby review by Adrijan Arsovski - Cinema Paradiso

Carrie Pilby is a fine, quirky, hipster-y film that does its job perfectly. Clearly, this film belongs in those coming-of-age film categories (plus the artificial drama thrown in there for good measure), which makes Carrie Pilby a must-watch for anyone with even the slightest interest in melodrama, emotional tear-jerking, and a sentimental barrage of quirkiness which you can scoop by the dozens. Despite all of that though, this offering has something unique to it that’s not just tied-in to its nature as described above; this flick is interesting enough to warrant at least two viewings in the same week without you feeling guilty for doing just that.

The film follows Carrie, a young Harvard graduate who is also pretty and intelligent all at once (or so the film forces us to think). She lives in an apartment in NYC, with her Dad paying the rent. Despite all of that, she is set aback by irrational fears and anxiety that makes her feel very insecure. Caught off-guard by human cruelty and stung by the world’s indifference, Carrie has become a 100% introvert with no intention of getting a job, or leaving her apartment, ever. Luckily, there is a certain figure who rushes in to save the day: her therapist. But, despite coming up with the simplest of plans to get Carrie out there, like read her favorite book, go on a date, get herself a pet, and meet new friends, Carrie is still paralyzed and cannot fully commit. Ultimately, through going against her fears and working against her introversion, Carrie Pilby finally realizes that her greatest weakness is also a blessing in disguise.

When it comes to acting, the lead actress Bel Powley is a joy to watch. Her witty, sharp, and to-the-point portrayal as the quirkily yet shy Carrie Pilby is spot on. The dialogue in Carrie Pilby is as sharp as it can get, without it being too obnoxious or hipster-y (damn, I love using that word in a pejorative fashion). Additionally, the story serves its purpose and is mostly aimed towards younger women who are just starting to come up on their own in life. This isn’t to say that men can’t find some enjoyment out of this offering, but for all intents and purposes, girls are the real winners here. Now, before this review devolves into the ‘battle of the sexes’ type of rant, let’s just agree that men CAN watch this without feeling excluded from the narrative arc, themes, and every other quality of the film.

Finally, Carrie Pilby tends to be one of those rare indie gems that probably everyone will forget about in t -2 years. Which doesn’t mean that Carrie isn’t good, but the lack of perennial themes makes this film just not ideal for the Library of Congress. For the time being however, Carrie Pilby is a joy to watch.