Going Shopping

Going Shopping is an intriguing exploration of the rich, complex, and occasionally baffling world of women's relationship with shopping as seen through the lens of independent filmmaking. Released in 2005, the film's director Henry Jaglom melds a uniquely comedic and dramatic standpoint to craft a narrative that strikes a balance between a romantic comedy, drama, and a documentary of sorts.

The story, co-written by Victoria Foyt and Henry Jaglom, revolves around Holly G (portrayed by Victoria Foyt), a fashion designer with an eponymous boutique in Santa Monica, California. She has poured her heart and soul into a high-end dress shop, creating a safe haven where women can indulge their love of beautiful clothes and share their deepest secrets. Further enriching her character, we learn that Holly is also a single mother to Coco (Mae Whitman), with whom she shares an interesting dynamic depicted playfully and endearingly in the film.

Rob Morrow plays Adam, Holly's boyfriend, who almost embodies the stereotype of a man utterly confounded by women's obsession with shopping and general propensity for emotional complexity. He finds himself increasingly entangled in Holly's life as both struggle to sort out their often-conflicting views about their relationship and individual aspirations.

Lee Grant adds a remarkable depth to the film with her role as Winnie, Holly's mother. Through her character, the film delves much deeper into the cycles of intergenerational attitudes toward relationships and shopping, paving the way for interesting encounters and meaningful dialogues.

Going Shopping is set against the three-day backdrop of the blow-out sale weekend. Holly's shop is in dire financial straits, and she plans to salvage her business by putting out a massive Mother’s Day sale. The backdrop serves as an interesting pretext for women of all walks of life to congregate, browse and shop in Holly’s store. From here, we witness a fascinating microcosm of women of different quirks, eccentricities and lives swarming into the store – all drawn by the irresistible lure of shopping.

The film does not only dwell on Holly's narrative but also captures the stories of an assortment of women who come and go. The intimate conversations about their lives, struggles, and relationships, inferred in the dressing rooms, subtly expose the therapeutic and emotional connection women share with shopping. This multi-layered narrative not only adds depth and variety to the otherwise simple premise but also provides the audience multiple lenses to view the story.

Interspersed throughout Going Shopping, are a series of insightful interviews with real-life shoppers. These "confessional" sequences provide humorous, poignant and often relatable insights into women's enigmatic relationship with shopping; it’s not just about the clothes but about hope, self-expression, and comfort.

On the technical front, Michael Brandman's casual but expert cinematography and Hanan Townshend's fitting score create an atmosphere that places the viewer right in the hustle and bustle of the shop and the intimate conversations occurring within its confines. Although Going Shopping was released in 2005, it remains timeless in the way it captures the universal language of shopping and the deep-seated love women often have for this activity.

In conclusion, the film delicately weaves together a diverse tapestry of human emotions, relationships and the universally understood solace and joy of shopping. While the plot's structure certainly has shades of romantic comedy and drama, the essence of the film resides in portraying shopping as a celebration, an escape, a therapy, a hobby, and even a way to assert independence. Going Shopping is a unique and engaging blend of slice-of-life storytelling and social observation that makes a bold statement about women's relationship with shopping.