Having turned his head to documentary filmmaking with the glorious Marley last year, Kevin MacDonald returns with a narrative feature, and though he intertwines between the two disciplines consistently (and effortlessly), it’s the latter where the Scot comes into his element. With his latest picture How I Live Now, an enchanting romance flick of the Beasts of the Southern Wild ilk, he proves he has an aptitude to excel in whatever genre he tackles, as one of the most ingenious filmmakers working today.
Saoirse Ronan plays Daisy, a young American girl who moves to the English countryside to stay with her auntie and cousins for the summer. Though sceptical about the venture at first, she soon finds herself falling hopelessly in love with the eldest of her cousins, Edmond (George MacKay). As the pair embark on an intense, sensual exploration of one other, a devastating Third World War breaks out, and the couple are separated as a result. Daisy, who stays close by the side of the youngest cousin Piper (Harley Bird – the voice of Peppa Pig, no less), decides to roam across this foreign land in search of the boy she has fallen in love with.
The greatest achievement of all in How I Live Now, is how MacDonald ensures this remains as a romantic piece of cinema, despite the dark and severe themes on show. The war remains a consistent present throughout, but always a backdrop to the main crux of the story: the reuniting of Daisy and Edmond. In fact, we never actually learn of who the antagonists are, the enemy are merely referred to as “terrorists” as we never find out what their cause nor identity is. That said, the film is lacking in some context or explanation, as information on the war is scarce, throwing us into the deep end somewhat, and then continuing on in much of the same manner.
To go against the conflict within the movie, MacDonald brings in a supernatural edge, taking the sting off the severity of the war, as he takes a surreal approach. There is a realism to this, with a hypothetical scenario of a potential World War 3 and how we as a nation would react to it – yet we carelessly detract from the naturalistic aspects completely. Despite losing some credence along the way, this is all to ensure the romance remains the prevalent theme, and it is fascinating to delve into this treacherous set of events from such an angle, as although war and death are rife within this movie, everything is tinted with a hint of romanticism, as love runs right through the middle of proceedings.
It helps that we fully adhere to this love too, despite how swiftly we enter into it. Their relationship is short lived but intense, feeling a bit like a holiday romance – yet we still see enough in it to root for their coming together for the rest of the picture. It helps that we have such a strong leading performance by Ronan, who is becoming one of the safest bets in world cinema. It’s intriguing how we look upon this war from the perspective of a foreigner too, and when paired with Piper, we see events unfold from a mere child’s point of view, really highlighting the futility of war. It’s refreshing to see the tale told from Daisy’s perspective as a woman as well, as there is no denying that Edmond – who was captured by the army – would have had as equally an interesting (and far more action orientated) journey, yet the pensiveness of Daisy’s story is more in line with the atmosphere of the piece.
Showing off England for all its beauty – with a graciously composed, picturesque setting, How I Live Now makes a point of showing the natural beauty beneath a destructive outbreak of war, and though set in a fictitious scenario, it’s an inspiring notion that remains as pertinent today, as it will forever more.
[Rating:4/5]
