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This review was originally published on January 22, 2024 out of the Sundance Film Festival.
We are recirculating it now timed toThelmas theatrical debut.
Hey everybody, Im gonna haul ass to Lollapalooza!
Its observations about the disconnect between its elderly protagonist and the society around her are surprisingly relatable.
(How do I …
I need the … Where is the … Whats an inbox?)
Before she sends the money, Thelma calls her daughter, Gail (Parker Posey), Daniels mom.
Getting no answer, she then calls Alan (Clark Gregg), his father.
Neither parent responds in time, so off Thelma goes to the post office with the money.
The world doesnt have time for her, but she has time for the world thats her weakness.
That doesnt stop Margolin from riffing on spy movies and action flicks.
For her, he becomes a symbol of persistence and resilience in ones advancing years.
But he also has his own demons hes trying to overcome.
Thelmagenerates clever, inoffensive fun from assorted elderly challenges.
At one point, she asks him what a computer is, pretending to be a clueless old person.
Then, she smiles.
I know what a computer is, she explains, but what is it really?
How does it function?
Daniel has no idea.
The point is that Thelma might be confused, but deep down, so are we all.
As the world spins ever forward, we all wind up out of touch with it soon enough.
