The movie marks the directorial debut of reality TV editor Fernanda Cardoso (America's Next Top Model, The Real L Word). She also wrote the script over a few years time span, which is based on her experience as a former student at the University of Southern California (USC) where a lot of child actors come to study.
Bloomington, Plot Synopsis
Sarah Stouffer plays Jacqueline Kirk, a former child-star of what used to be a cult sci-fi show, who is attending college in Bloomington, Indiana, and while she tries to fit in, her fellow students don't seem to find anything else to talk to her about other than her TV show. She equally experiences flattery and jealousy from them.
Jackie tries to find her independence away from an overbearing mother and a crazy showbiz life. We learn that she left the show by requesting to be written-off when her agent died.
Allison McAtee plays the confident and stunning Professor Catherine Stark. Rumour has it she sleeps with both her male and female students. Although their paths cross several times, Jackie and Catherine get to know each other during a departmental mixer. The lady-killer Professor needs less than a minute to go from a handshake to a kiss and to an invitation to her place. As ethically questionable as their relationship seems, the physical attraction is stronger and the more time the two women spend together, the deeper they fall for each other.
Catherine may be a tough cookie who intimidates everyone around her, but when she's with Jackie she can be herself, with all her fears and insecurities. She's gentle and kind. She coaches Jackie for an essay. There are moments between the two when she almost maternally nurtures Jackie, like the bathing scene.
The fast pace in the first part of their clandestine relationship is anything but sordid. As their feelings for each other grow, Catherine takes Jackie under her wing and Jackie helps Catherine overcome one of her biggest fears: flying.
Things change when Jackie gets a call from her agent. She has the chance to audition for a feature film version of her old TV show. This is the moment that puts Jackie/Catherine relationship to the test. While Jackie starts travelling between LA and Bloomington, doing press for the film and being a student, Catherine shows her possessive side and after attending a press party together where Jackie introduces her teacher as a "college friend" they have a huge fight.
Jackie will have to choose between her relationship with Catherine and what a career in LA would entail. When their relationship is revealed, Catherine is forced to resign.
Bloomington, Movie Review
Despite being a low budget movie, Bloomington is a well oiled machine. With a handful of crew, all of them graduates of USC, Cardoso pulled off a great movie based on a good quality script. The characters are realistic and profound and the story is unique and refreshing.
The passion between the two leads doesn't need any nudity display to be believable. McAtee, as the predatory yet vulnerable and lonely teacher, and Stouffer, as the innocent yet mature and level-headed girl, deliver remarkable performances and their chemistry is obvious.
Stouffer is at her first lead in a movie, while McAtee is credited as guest star in many prestigious TV shows like CSI, Nip Tuck, Californication or The Mentalist, to mention just a few.
Also brilliant is Katherine Ann McGregor as Jackie's mother. McGregor is best known for her roles in West Wing, Eli Stone and Bones.
Director of Photography, George Feucht, deserves kudos for showing the best angles in the best light, particularly considering the movie was shot on digital. Also, Cardoso's choice of adding two of Ani DiFranco's songs to the soundtrack was an excellent idea. "32 Flavours" and "Overlap" give the right touch to some of the crucial Jackie/Catherine moments.
Having said that, Bloomington is a lovely, simple, and entertaining movie to watch.
Anca Dumitru - A Romanian native, Anca has been living and working in different European countries for a long time. With over 16 years of corporate life ...
