Vox Lux (2018)

Directed by: Brady Corbet | 114 minutes | drama, music | Actors: Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Stacy Martin, Jennifer Ehle, Raffey Cassidy, Christopher Abbott, Logan Riley Bruner, Maria Dizzia, Meg Gibson, Daniel London, Sahr Ngaujah, Micheál Richardson, Matt Servitto, Leslie Silva, Allison Winn

Brady Corbet, an actor known for the films ‘Thirteen’ and ‘Funny Games’, directed his first film, ‘The Childhood of a Leader’, in 2013. With his second film, ‘Vox Lux’, which he has written and directed, he analyzes American culture through the eyes of pop music, showing the interaction between those who are created by culture and those who shape it. The film shows this interaction nicely in two chapters. Chapter 1 outlines the horrific circumstances out of which a celebrity like a Phoenix is ​​born. In Chapter 2, the same celebrity is associated with circumstances that were responsible for her rise to fame. ‘Vox Lux’ was first screened at the 75th Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2018 and was quickly picked up by film producer and distributor Neon.

Celeste Montgomery (Raffey Cassidy) survives a 1999 school massacre, as perpetrated by one of her fellow students. She becomes famous when she writes and publicly recites a song about her experiences with her sister, Eleanor (Stacy Martin). She is soon noticed by an enthusiastic manager (Jude Law) and with him she quickly rises to the rarefied heights of worldwide celebrity. In 2017 Celeste (now played by Natalie Portman) is 31 and now has a daughter, Albertine (now played by Raffey Cassidy who first played for Celeste) who accompanies her in the preparation of a big concert. At the same time, Celeste must defend herself in the media when a massacre is carried out in Brač, Croatia, by gunmen wearing masks used by Celeste in a music video.

‘Vox Lux’ is a critique of American culture and, according to director Brady Corbet, symbolizes its decline. He is also concerned about the increasing power of the trivial to influence culture through media attention. The story is inspired by Apple news updates with 4 to 5 most-read stories, one of which is about a mass murder, for example, and another about Britney Spears who has a different hair color. According to the director, when people look back to our time, they will remember the September 11, 2001 attacks as well as Britney Spears. In ‘Vox Lux’ these two extremes are cyclically brought together, whereby a massacre inflicted on a school creates a megastar that itself inspires or is associated with another massacre. In an inspired monologue, Celeste comments on the stupidity of society that takes everything, even her own music, for sweet pie, and perhaps uses her celebrity to get herself in the media. Even if it is in a negative way. At the same time, ‘Vox Lux’ pays attention to the corrosive effect of extreme celebrity and the fears the ‘greats’ among us struggle with in the quiet hours of their aloneness.

Although ‘Vox Lux’ has something to say about American culture, and about pop culture in particular, it doesn’t express itself directly. The film is more like a coming-of-age story of a star and the effect that fame has on her life. Natalie Portman is very convincing as Celeste who switches judgment and emotion in an almost bipolar way and has adapted very well to the mechanism that underlies pop music entertainment. Jude Law has a less pronounced character here, is more present on the edges of the film and has a one-dimensional character: he is enthusiastic and only thinks about her well-being. The focus is mainly on Celeste and how she develops into a world star. The musician Sia (real name: Sia Kate Isobelle Furler), an Australian pop star, provides the music for ‘Vox Lux’ and fits very well with the atmosphere of the film.

‘Vox Lux’ is less profound than the context suggests and is more like a coming-of-age story of a world star with the attendant perils. Natalie Portman acts like a charm and is therefore the beautiful center on which the film rests. It is definitely worth seeing because you are taken into her world, her fears and her art. You can then form a judgment for yourself if the film has taught you something.