As a debut director aiming for something exceptional beyond the ordinary, one of the primary instincts is to cast a talented actor in the lead role. Alice Englert, in her directorial debut, chose Jennifer Connelly, who delivered one of her most impressive performances to date. Alongside Ben Whishaw’s commanding presence in the film’s first half, Englert had ample opportunity to fine-tune her script for her inaugural feature film as a director. While acting has never been a challenge for Englert, given her lineage tracing back to her esteemed director mother, Jane Campion, crafting a movie with such a diverse ensemble cast speaks volumes about her artistic growth.
The film primarily delves into the intricacies of the mother-daughter relationship. However, despite its focus, the film’s press release made it clear that “Although Bad Behaviour is not specifically about Alice Englert’s relationship with her own mother, the film was inspired by the numerous spiritual retreats she’s attended over the years alongside her mother.” This statement sheds light on the director’s process of gathering stories to imbue them with structure. The film isn’t merely a random collection of memories; rather, it represents a learning curve for many individuals who take a leap of faith, investing themselves deeply in the people they cherish the most in life.
Bad Behaviour (2023) Movie Review:
Englert recognized primarily for her acting roles in Starz’s Dangerous Liaisons and the series Top of the Lake: China Girl, has showcased her directorial prowess in her latest film. Known for her detailed visuals and adeptness in working with actors, Englert has cemented her credentials as a filmmaker in her own right. Despite its unconventional nature, the film’s unique voice and dark humor are poised to resonate with audiences appreciative of its distinctiveness. Filmed entirely in New Zealand, the movie aptly captures the picturesque rural beauty of both the retreat and the movie setting, thanks to the cinematographer Matt Henley. The satirical scenes set at the retreat, featuring Connelly and Whishaw’s nuanced performances, strikingly balance the film’s comedic and dramatic elements.
The film’s narrative could have concluded elegantly with the retreat’s end, presenting a structured short film. However, Englert expands the story to follow Dylan’s experiences on an unhappy film set, where she engages in an affair and suffers an injury at work. Notably, Jane Campion, Englert’s real-life mother and director, appears fleetingly as the brisk doctor treating Dylan. As the story unfolds, Dylan returns to the US to support Lucy, leading to authentic yet contentious mother-daughter interactions before a somewhat unnecessary epiphanic resolution. The latter part of the film appears disjointed, lacking a clear direction, although Connelly’s captivating portrayal retains its mesmerizing quality throughout.
Though Lucy and Dylan don’t share a natural affinity, their characters exhibit a penchant for misbehavior despite fundamentally being good people. Additionally, Lucy’s strained relationship with pseudo-enlightenment encounters a twist with the arrival of a model, portrayed with comedic finesse by Dasha Nekrasova, who adds further chaos to the mix and earns instant adoration from everyone involved.
What happens at the Retreat?
Lucy tries to express her inner anger with each passing day, but since she has been an introvert for quite a long time, she finds it very hard to express how she feels. Then comes Beverly, a model who is struggling with her life and wants to find the meaning of being enlightened. Lucy herself was a child actress in the past, and seeing Beverly receiving all the VIP treatment, she becomes very irritated toward her.
There comes a time when the leader Elon Bello tells them to role-play with each other. As things turn out, Beverly becomes the mother to Lucy, who is playing the baby. After a while, when Beverly is trying to make Lucy sleep; she starts crying. Beverly does not know what to do, so she tries to console her. Later, when Lucy is supposed to say how she feels about her mother to Beverly, she says that her mother should kill herself. Beverly thinks that Lucy has said this to her, and she goes to her room crying.
When does Lucy attack Beverly?
No matter how much Lucy tries to convince Beverly that she does not mean that to her but to her mother, Beverly fails to understand any of it. Later, in another sitting, right after Elon shouts at Lucy and the situation gets tense, Beverly comes in and talks about her achieving enlightenment. But, all of a sudden, Lucy throws water at her and then pushes her from the chair, hits her head with it, and acts all strange. One of the participants of the retreat holds her and guides her into a police car.
What happens to Dylan at the set?
Since Dylan is a professional stunt woman, she rehearses with her partner, and soon they engage in a romantic relationship. One day, at the set, her partner accidentally pushes her from a cliff; well, at least it seemed like it. Anyway, since she is injured and has a concussion on her head; the production decides to let go of her. Her father calls in the meantime and updates her about Lucy. The last time Dylan had talked to her, Lucy said that she would be unavailable for a while as she was taking part in a retreat. But knowing that Lucy is in jail, Dylan is deeply worried.
Bad Behaviour (2023) Movie Ending Explained:
What does Lucy confess to Dylan?
At the hotel, Dylan discovers Lucy playing the piano. Recognizing her mother’s reluctance to converse and their strained relationship, Dylan decides to get a separate room. However, due to all other rooms being fully booked, Dylan ends up staying in Lucy’s room. Later that night, Dylan queries Lucy about her attack on Beverly, but Lucy brushes off the explanation, attributing it to Beverly’s unbearable behavior. Throughout the night, the mother and daughter express predominantly angry feelings towards each other. Dylan accuses Lucy of always seeing herself as her grandmother, while Lucy complains about Dylan’s multiple suicide attempts.
Following their argument, Dylan takes a blanket and spends the entire night sleeping on the balcony. The next morning, a lawyer arrives to speak with Lucy and invites Dylan to join them at the breakfast table. When the lawyer inquires whether Lucy ever encouraged Beverly to kill herself, Lucy clarifies that it was part of a role-playing game, mistaking Beverly for her mother. Later, the lawyer observes Lucy venturing deep into the forest, prompting Dylan to follow. Dylan locates Lucy near the river, where Lucy admits her deep affection for her daughter.
Will Dylan and Lucy’s relationship end on a happy note?
Soon after talking to Lucy by the side of the river, Dylan comes back, and the lawyer says that Lucy is crossing the river. Dylan thinks that her mother will follow her back to the hotel, but instead, she is going into the deeper forest. They start searching for her again, and in the meantime, Dylan makes out with the lawyer. It is perhaps the moment she finds herself in the hands of uncertainty and fulfillment as her mother, the woman from whom she has craved love for so long, finally admits her attachment toward her.
Anyway, the lawyer guides her into a cave where Elon Bello is hiding himself already. Dylan comes out of the cave as the lawyer says he has found out where Lucy is. Dylan and Lucy meet at the top of the moment, sharing some gestures and love between each other. The lawyer captures the moment in the mobile camera while the mother and the daughter reconcile their relationship. They continue enjoying the moment without worrying about anything else in particular. So, yes, Dylan and Lucy’s relationship ends on a happy note.
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