SXSW 2020 - I Used to go Here
SXSWKris Rey's I Used to Go Here is a personal and wonderfully layered tale of self-acceptance and growth, with a great balance of tone throughout an excellent screenplay and leading performance from Gillian Jacobs.
Jacobs, as of late, has been on a sweeping path within the independent circuit, and her performance as Kate in I Used to Go Here continues this trend. Jacobs showcases a robust emotional range with a performance engulfed in heartache and socio-political pressures, in which both Jacobs and writer-director Kris Rey crafts with a compelling motif and poignancy that is intimate yet universal.
The theme of self-acceptance present here is tremendously implemented and thankfully, never drowning in a feature that brews existential crisis — a decision that would undoubtedly alienate most of its audience. Director Rey crafts a softer and more personally thematic element. While soft and subtle, the themes evolve and grow in a profound nuance as they slowly take shape. By doing this, their weight builds in an authentic and natural manner, ultimately engaging with the audience in a way that has them dreading the next powerful moment.
That is not to say that there are not powerful moments in regards to being a woman in the writing industry — or swallowing pride and acceptance of life moving faster than imagines. These elements are here with engaging and enlightening execution. Furthermore, to balance these healthy topics out, I Used to Go Here adds a pleasing element of comedic bravado. Notable from What We Do in the Shadows actor, writer and director Jermaine Clement as Kate's old teacher David. Clement adds great comedic bravado and sentiment to the overall feature with quite a dry comedic sensibility. That being said, it is Jacobs that stands out and once again impresses here with the actress’s comedic spectrum. Jacobs balances the drama with a comedic edge more or less perfectly.
