Shy People

Shy People is a compelling drama film from 1987. Directed by Andrei Konchalovsky, the film presents a stark and powerful narrative set in the enigmatic, innately wild landscape of the Louisiana bayou, featuring a host of talented actors including Jill Clayburgh, Barbara Hershey and Martha Plimpton.

The film opens with ambitious, sophisticated New York magazine writer Diana Sullivan, portrayed by Jill Clayburgh, on a mission to pen a piece about her family roots. The quest for her familial past leads her to the heart of the bayous of Louisiana where she seeks out her distant cousin, the reclusive and enigmatic Ruth, played by Barbara Hershey. Along with her daughter Grace, portrayed by Martha Plimpton, Diana embarks on a starkly contrasting journey into the depth of the American South, away from their cosmopolitan lifestyle.

From the onset, Shy People uses its vivid settings and its artistic portrayal of cultural contrasts to convey its narrative. There's a fascinating conflict of interests and lifestyles as Diana and Grace, symbols of the bustling, lavish city life, collide with Ruth and her family, who lead a primitive, resilient existence in the rugged wilderness of the bayous, isolated from urban civilization.

Barbara Hershey offers a commanding screen presence as Ruth, a woman hardened by her life yet rendered vulnerable by her hardships, bound tightly to her family and her land. Ruth's family consists of her two sons, a daughter, and an autistic grandchild, all living in a dilapidated but charming bayou shack. The clash with their sophisticated relatives from the city makes for compelling viewing.

The excellent script by Gerard Brach and Marjorie David, coupled with Andrei Konchalovsky's direction, does a commendable job navigating the cultural and personal dichotomies that arise within the narrative. The script draws out the fragile, complex humanity lurking in the shadows of these seemingly disparate lifestyles. Equally, it explores the miners of meaningful relationships and the importance of kinship, even among the most unlikely similarities and circumstances.

Every character in Shy People, each contributing to the narrative in their own way, is beautifully fleshed out - whether it's the city dwellers navigating the alien, wild environs of the bayou, or Ruth's family confronting their personal demons amidst the untamed bayou settings. And it's through such precise character development that the film achieves its raw, emotional punch.

Punctuated by Tangerine Dream's ethereal, atmospheric music score that perfectly syncs with the sprawling, untamed Louisiana landscapes, Shy People excels in the aesthetic domain as well. The breathtaking photography, courtesy of cinematographer Chris Menges, captures the otherworldly charm of the bayou and adds an extra layer of depth to the narrative and its emotional trajectory.

Jill Clayburgh's performance as Diana, the arrogant, out-of-element city woman who flips between curiosity and disdain for her cousin's lifestyle, is powerful. Barbara Hershey in the role of Ruth, the determined yet guarded woman bound by tradition and attachment to her family and land, delivers a provocative and sympathetic performance that earned her the Best Actress award at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival. Young Martha Plimpton also packs a punch through her character Grace, representing the bridging gap between two contrasting universes.

Overall, Shy People is not simply a film, but a journey. A journey that unravels with each passing interaction in Andrei Konchalovsky's fittingly named film. While depicting the culture clash between modern, urban life and one rooted deeply in nature and tradition, Shy People does a brilliant job of exploring human connections, asking pertinent questions about identity, heritage, and the ties that bind. It's a film that lays bare the dual essence of human nature, each character representative of the paradox that is the human condition, against the backdrop of the timeless, unforgiving bayou.