THE ASSISTANT

This 2019 film written and directed by Kitty Green may be the first drama inspired by the #MeToo movement.

It covers one day in the work experience of a junior female assistant, Jane, at a film production company.  On the surface not much is happening, but there is a lot of small and subtle stuff  going on that accumulates to create a claustrophobic and unsettling atmosphere.

Playing Jane is Julia Garner (Ruth from the Netflix series 'Ozark') who is superbly able to convey someone who resembles a coiled up spring - intent on doing her job, and trying to ignore the culture in the office, and the small slights she suffers.  The lack of a score, further adds to the oppressive atmosphere.

As the film unfolds it slowly becomes clear that the head of the company, her boss, is sexually exploiting young women.  The fact that we never see him makes this somehow even more disturbing.  It also emphasises the gap in status between him and his staff.  

The most eventful, but also the most dispiriting, thing that happens is a meeting between Jane and a HR manager (Matthew Macfadyen) where it becomes clear that he is not remotely interested in what she has to say about her boss.

Whilst this film is frankly quite depressing, I also take hope from the fact that the toxic culture it depicts is now being exposed to sunlight. 

RATING: ✓ If You've Nothing Better To Do