Rare Beasts

Rare Beasts is a gripping 2019 dark romantic comedy written and directed by Billie Piper that delves deep into the complexities and contradictions of modern relationships. This British-based film, marking Piper’s directorial debut, takes a brutally honest and often uncomfortable journey through the struggles of romance in a cynical world, exploring the thin line between love and hate.

Billie Piper adorns the lead role of Mandy, a single mother whose life is in constant disarray. Struggling to balance her demanding career with the responsibilities of motherhood, Mandy’s love life is a mirror image of chaos that characterizes her day-to-day living. She’s a woman in a state of perpetual conflict, grappling with questions about her choices and subjects like modern feminism, narcissism, and traditionalism. Piper’s own experience as an actress, mother, and woman in the 21st century informs her striking portrayal of Mandy, making the protagonist an unsettlingly vivid and relatable character.

British actor Leo Bill co-stars as Pete, the problematic love interest. He's an ostensibly charming man who carries with him a weight of discontentment for his environment and, in fact, the modern world. Pete, who self-identifies as anti-feminist, is at the heart of the turmoil that unfolds in Mandy’s life, despite her best efforts to find stability. Their match, however far from “made in heaven,” forms the crux of the ‘ugly love story’ Rare Beasts is intended to portray.

Kerry Fox rounds out the cast playing a significant role as Mandy's mother, adding another layer of complexity to Mandy's relationships in her life. Furthermore, a series of other strong performances from the supporting cast, including Toby Woolf, David Thewlis, and Lily James, contribute to the film's successful pursuit of the intense exploration of human emotions and raw relationship drama.

Directed in an unorthodox way, Rare Beasts rejects the stereotypical rose-tinted nuances of modern-day romances or romantic comedies. Instead, it presents an alternative point of view, suggesting that love and relationships are not universally pretty or straightforward. There are some uncomfortable truths to be faced, which the movie does not shy away from. It is a daring and unapologetic look at love and how complicated it can be, offering its audience a chance to reflect thoughtfully on its themes and the state of their understanding and expectations of modern love.

The film is brought to life by a delicately crafted script, meticulously portraying the thorny ins and outs of its characters’ lives. Piper’s writing shines through, providing a mix of witty dialogue and scenes that are as humorous as they are heart-wrenching. The film is set in urban London, and its visually striking cinematography skillfully captures the tumultuous roller-coaster of events and emotions with a backdrop of London’s landscapes and cityscapes.

Rare Beasts is not your average love story. It’s an experience that makes you question the conventional notions of romance, relationships, and gender roles. Its cinematic audacity is seen in the way it approaches these sensitive subjects and its undeniably honest revelations about love in the modern world. The performances are gripping, with honest portrayals that give depth to their fictional counterparts.

In essence, Rare Beasts is an unforgettable journey of affection, conflict, and self-reflection. The experiences of Mandy form an emotional roadmap that the audience can follow, whether to find their own experiences mirrored in her or to gain insight into aspects of modern love they had not considered. All in all, this movie is an uncompromising dramatic exploration of complexities of love, making it a must-watch for those who appreciate bold cinema that breaks norms and goes beneath the surface.