The Feeling That … Has Passed – A Charming BDSM Comedy

Otherwise known as The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed; the film is a short but sweet BDSM comedy. The feature writing and directorial debut of Joanna Arnow, she also stars and serves as its editor. While something that will inevitably not be everyone’s speed, it has an undeniable charm to it and whose power ultimately lies in its grounded simplicity. Its subject matter, at least on paper, could take some aback but it is merely a vehicle to make a larger point as it relates to the everyday millennial experience. The uncertainty many millenials feel when it comes to navigating their everyday lives and figuring out their futures is reflected here and as with most things, it isn’t quite a straight line because that’s how life goes. Some could feel trapped, feeling like the feeling that time time for doing something has passed. It is within the awkward and cringey moments that often make up the mundanity of life that the film mines its comedy. Though its deadpan sense of humor may not be for everyone, the genuine and raw way for which it goes about it is something worth appreciating and also relatable. Running at a brisk and efficient 87-minutes, it certainly does not overstay its welcome. Arnow has a sincerity to her that she finds heart in the ridiculousness.

The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed follows a woman named Ann (Arnow), a thirty-something woman living in New York City, balancing her long-term BDSM relationship with a much older man named Allen (Cohen) and her menial everyday life, including her low-level job and her dysfunctional Jewish parents. Built with an episodic structure, the story follows her and her various relationships with men. Resigned to her life as a submissive, she was a willing participant and good at following orders, even bringing her initiative to keep her relationship fresh. Unsexy and often awkward, the film finds plenty of comedy in those moments but that general tone could also be seen in her work which saw a fair share of parallels, using that contrast for laughs as each share a comical indifference towards Ann and her life (Allen routinely asks her where she went to college and then forgets while her job handed her a one-year anniversary trophy despite her having been there for three years). Routinely faced with humiliation in her personal and professional lives, she sort of got off on it. Over the years, a sense of complacency began to set in. Though impassive, she eventually grew tired of her relationship with Allen, Ann put herself back out on the dating scene.

From there, Ann found herself dating a trove of others in the BDSM scene where the once ridiculous monotony of her previous relationship is taken to yet another level as the things she is forced to do and/or endure is absolutely hilarious. That being said, The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed was not all doom and gloom as her fortunes seemed to change after meeting a man named Chris (Tafti). A normal man, in comparison to the men of her past, was nowhere near the BDSM scene. Their dynamic was so refreshing to watch as she pushes back on the notion that the time for doing something has passed. Shifting to more of a romcom in tone, the two go through a trove of endearing moments, especially when Ann attempted to introduce him to the world of BDSM in a charming way. Stripped, for the most part, of the ridiculousness of her past relationships, they share a genuineness that makes Ann’s breakthrough, as she started to discover her self-worth and take charge of her life, that much more satisfying. If there is one thing that holds it back, it is its attempt to address the unfinished business between Ann and Allen to get some closure.

In the end, the best part of The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed is Arnow, as a writer, director, and actor. Her script is simple yet efficient, delivering a grounded story full of heart and truth as it captures the angst many millenials feel. The story about a woman trying to be seen and not ignored is one that is sure to resonate. Even if its comedy may not always hit, its earnestness is commendable. As a director, she constructs scenes in such a raw and intimate way while using long shots or long takes to capture the absurdity of its comedy, finding the right tone in a film that could have easily gone off the rails. As the star, she is compelling to watch as Ann, a flawed and relatable woman just trying to figure herself out. The way she goes about it may be different. Her journey may not be straightforward but it is still effective. Meanwhile, her chemistry with Cohen and Tafti was also strong. Ideological polar opposites, they each commit to their roles and what they represented in terms of the story as a whole.

The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed is a long-titled film that may seem daunting but it is an effective indie comedy that thrives within its simplicity, offering a charming and grounded narrative that is sure to connect with audiences and maybe make them a little uncomfortable along the way.

still courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.