Focusing on Lizzy, a sculptor preparing to open a new show, ‘Showing Up’ depicts the personal and professional drama of the introverted artist who tries to balance her creative aspirations with everyday life.
Without any misdirects or false leads, ‘Showing Up’ is a more than intimate look into the artists life, combining both the expression of Lizzy’s deep love and commitment for her art and the examination of everyday drama around her. In readying her pieces for the show, Lizzy is continuously derailed by household maintenance issues, her day-job and an uninvited guest in the form of a rescued pigeon that her cat had mauled.
Most impactful are the relationships Lizzy shares with her parents, brother and colleagues. Striving for recognition, Lizzy seeks her parents approval through her sculpting exhibition. Passing by almost undetected in conversation, each time Lizzy talks with her mother Jean regarding her work, her efforts are thwarted and sidelined by other ongoing issues, such as her brother's mental health or other, more noticeable peoples work.
Similarly with her father, a sculptor himself, Lizzy lights up when she has the chance to take in her father’s feedback on her work, a moment short lived as she is out shined by other events soon after. ‘Showing Up’ manages to capture the undeniable urge that lives in all of us, - to be noticed and appreciated, especially for something as close to ones own heart and as personal as art.
Scraping by in pursuit of what she loves to do, Lizzy’s art serves as a sort of refuge from the outside world, providing for a space of joy and lacking in unnecessary emotional affairs.
The film serves well to provide for a uniquely insightful look into the professional relationship between two artists. Not overtly expressive in term of jealousy or envy, Lizzy sees as her colleague, and landlord, Jo experiences great achievements, with matters further complicated when Jean actively praises Jo, without recognizing Lizzy in the same way. The film masterfully and consistently manages to capture moments of being overlooked, evoking a sense of sadness and pity for Lizzy, even though she has learned to let such things pass her by at this point.
Showing Lizzy as a closed and quiet modeller, Michelle Williams takes on a daring task of depicting a reserved and slightly peculiar artist. With a seemingly singular goal, of returning to and continuing her work with clay, Williams delivers a dry, yet intriguing character, one who tackles her challenges one at a time. Perhaps slightly too agreeable, William’s Lizzy grows irritated with being looked over, chooses to establish herself as someone not to be pushed over or ignored, managing to stand up for herself in the process.
Kelly Reichardt has managed to deliver yet another slice of life tale, seemingly about a few ordinary days in a small time artists life, yet provides for a profusion of drama with a richly deep exploration of family dynamics, professional jealousies and personal character development. With no urgency, unnecessary deadlines or gratuitous intrigue, ‘Showing Up’ deserves to be enjoyed for its frank, and perhaps at times even funny, depiction of an eccentric, and also somehow very grounded, episode of an individual striving towards her personal and professional goals.
Score: 3/4
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