2022 CAMDEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
Life is harrowing, painful, endlessly difficult–and some of us struggle to come to terms with the obstacles that befall us each and every day. Subtotals is one man’s attempt to tell the world exactly how he feels about these struggles. His simplistic take on expression urges viewers to see the intricacies of life, and his relentless attempt to unearth the harsh realities of this life is hard-hitting and vicious.
We’ve all been to a place in our lives when things don’t go quite as planned, when the darkness that constantly looms finds its way to us and we struggle to find the light. Depression is a fickle bitch, and it can cause us to do and say crazy things–and just as importantly, it can make you think crazy things. Mohammadreza Farzad expresses his deepest, darkest feelings regarding life and his struggles. Through his explanation of what he’s gone through he says something truly horrible, incredibly depressing, but for anyone that has dealt with mental health issues, they know just how true it is (making it that much more difficult to stomach). Farzad says: “When I’m happy, I’m afraid of dying…when I’m unhappy, I’m afraid of not dying.” While this quote doesn’t come until at least halfway through Subtotals, it sets the tone for the entirety of the film.
That quote effectively marries together everything that came before it, and it reminds viewers of what is to come throughout the remainder of the film. This one line, better than any or all of the others, expresses to the world the honest truth about mental health struggles, and it invites them into Subtotals better than I think any other line possibly could. While this is certainly the way in which Farzad feels, him being able to manipulate his words to create this is tremendously impressive. He reaches so many viewers with this one sentence alone, and his ability to do this so simplistically and effortlessly proves what a powerful filmmaker Farzad is.
Farzad, on the surface, is one of the most boring narrators in the history of film–but, as the film progresses it is understood that Farzad has made a conscious decision to present his content in a monotonous, incredibly simplistic fashion. He’s monotone, matter-of-fact, even a tad drab–but his tone of voice and his demeanor mirror the sentiment of the film, bringing his vision to life even more powerfully than he could have if he had shown vigorous emotion. Subtotals feels honest and real–and for those of us that have ever struggled with mental health and depression are easily able to understand Farzad’s words and purpose.
Farzad has a unique way of bringing emotion to life, a unique way of expressing to the world that mental health is something that we all deal with from time to time–and through his incredibly simplistic approach, he makes Subtotals accessible to all. He’s found a niche place within the world of cinema, and his own struggles translate well to film–and he’s created something brilliant in a number of ways. Subtotals is a deep dive into the human psyche in ways that I’ve yet to see and hear–and it’s the best thing that I’ve seen so far at this year’s Camden International Film Festival.
Directed by Mohammadreza Farzad.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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