TIFF 2022: Causeway Review

Acclaimed theatre director Lila Neugebauer has been patiently awaiting her opportunity to transition into filmmaking ever since she earned widespread recognition and a Tony nomination for her direction of Kenneth Lonergan’s The Waverley Gallery. Initially titled Red, White & Water, Neugebauers’s feature film debut has been in development for years at this point and has been on the radar of Oscaroligists who have been eagerly anticipating it’s release since early 2020. After a long wait Neugebauers debut, now titled Causeway has finally arrived by way of A24 and Apple TV+, and represents somewhat of a return to form for its lead star Jennifer Lawrence.

Lawrence stats as Lynsey, a U.S. soldier stationed in Afghanistan. When she suffers a brain injury during her tour due to a sudden explosion, she is unwillingly forced to return to her small town, where she must face her past and battle her inner demons, both past and present. Upon returning home, she meets a car repair man coping with his own trauma (Henry), who she instantly forms a deep connection with.

Human connection as a vehicle to move forward in our lives and combat our pain is at the center of Causeway; a film that is heavily concerned with exploring the lengths humans go to escape their trauma. Neugebauer’s muted approach and focus on the internal emotions of her characters makes this small-scale drama stand out considerably from other films in the same vein.

Since Lawrence attained A-list status, she hasn’t had the opportunity to work in the field of independent film and deliver more intimate performances. Fans of Winter’s Bone will be glad to see J-Law tap back into her roots, as she delivers a quiet and skillfully subtle performance as a kind-hearted but broken war veteran stuck at a crossroads in her life. She has very natural on-screen chemistry with Henry, who delivers a soulful performance that certainly ranks among his best to date.

Where Causeway falls short is in its writing. While the majority of dialogue is authentic and naturally delivered by the actors, the world that the characters inhabit is extremely underdeveloped. For a film about overcoming trauma and escaping one’s past, it is far too vague about the protagonist’s experiences. Aside from a few minor details that are briefly uncovered in conversations, audiences don’t really get a clear picture of her past or who she is as a person. The film certainly hints at some interesting points about trauma, but it is far too timid in its execution of its messaging to be truly impactful.

In the end, Causeway is a promising debut with strong performances that may fall short in some areas, but should be commended for attempting to tackle heavy subject matter in such an intimate fashion.

still courtesy of Apple

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

Tristan French