At a crossroads in his life, would-be rock god Joby Taylor (Paul Dano) leaves big city life for more rural landscapes in order to finalise his divorce settlement. However, when he realises that signing a settlement will result in losing his daughter, he wonders whether there is an opportunity for reconciliation with his estranged child, Ellen (Shaylena Mandigo).

To describe the film as slow and meandering would be an understatement. There is minimal character development and very little plot progression; uncomfortably and unnecessarily shallow focus and low-key lighting; and wide shots of the vast barrenness. It soon becomes apparent that a complete contempt for Joby is natural, even encouraged. His unbearable self-involvement and immature approach towards his daughter are flaws of a prima-donna personality.

To describe the film as slow and meandering would be an understatement…

Having spent an unforgivable amount of time alone with this thoroughly unlikeable character, we are saved by the arrival of Shaylena Mandigo. It’s a triumphant twenty minutes filled with joyous, touching poignancy, as Joby’s immaturity is matched off against his daughter’s. Ellen’s heart-felt innocence in the face of his clumsy attempts to bond allow the two characters to enjoy profound growth in a very short space of time. The film is at its strongest during these moments. The endless time spent examining every inch of Joby’s fragmented self makes sense, and his once loathsome character becomes likeable simply by association. After reaching an immensely emotional climax involving Beethoven’s Für Elise, Ellen’s unfortunately brief appearance in this film is over.

FOR ELLEN then reverts back to its default setting: trying far too hard to be art-house. A jarring ending that pays homage to Bob Rafelson’s FIVE EASY PIECES shows that Joby remains pitifully immature, and the audience is left to make their own minds up about the other details. Whilst there is no requirement to be spoon fed plot resolutions at the end of the film, we feel utterly abandoned.

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