Ladies, it’s a Hard-luck Life — Sunshine Cleaning

A ‘watch this film — you won’t regret it. It’s Women’s History Month

There are heartwarming movie fantasies you’re supposed to believe (you know, way too many soppy, steaming duds about making it big i.e. success and money aka the American Dream), and then there’s real life. I prefer the latter. But first, let me introduce you to the cast, writer, and director of the 2008 ‘Sunshine Cleaning’ who didn’t get the recognition I felt and still feel they deserved, probably because the writer and director are women. I’d like to remedy that with my small contribution of description here and now:

Emily Blunt as Norah Lorkowski Amy Adams as Rose Lorkowski Alan Arkin as Joe Lorkowski Jason Spevack as Oscar Lorkowski Cliffton Collins Jr as Winston Mary Lynn Rajskub as Lynn Steve Zahn as Mac, the jock Christine Jeffs director (who should direct more movies) Megan Holley writer (who we should read more about)

‘Um, we come into people’s lives when they have experienced something profound — and sad’

Albuquerque, New Mexico, the backdrop for this film, as a sort of reverse allegory for a lost world, real only for those who live it. Unseen by the rest of the world. Desolation-isolation-abandonment-forgotten.

How much of the population lives in the fracture between New York and Los Angeles? It’s such a huge country, so much distance in between, one can’t help feeling emptiness prevails in the attempt to supersede destiny.

‘Bonding Amid Blood Splatters: Two Sisters and Their Messy Lives’

A.O. Scott titled his review with the above. I think that’s a pretty good description in one sentence. He didn’t love it as much as I did but maybe it’s because he’s a guy? I don’t know. But this is a film that belongs in my all-time absolute favorites list.

Sunshine Cleaning: in this lost world, a single mom, her child, her sister, her father endure. Ramshackle, run down, struggling with their lives, their loves, their losses, their souls. I suspect the new middle class. Before, you’d have said lower middle class with a whiff of trailer park trash thrown in.

There’s not a lot that I am good at ~ Rose Lorkowski

Amy Adams as the calmly frazzled mom, Rose, trying to walk tall and proud with the “girl men want but won’t marry” stigma. Works as a cleaning lady, or maid, as its glibly referred to in the film. Cleaning the homes of the “American Beauty” smug housewife-types, although definitely minus any East/West coast chic. A wistfully eccentric younger sister, Norah, played by the always charismatic Emily Blunt. Seemingly untouchable. Aloof? Snobbish? Possibly. Her eyes reveal nothing; opaque somehow. Interesting mix. Seems consistent in all her roles. Spine of steel with rare glimpses of vulnerability. So the “lost” affect surfaces in a very believable way when Norah has to go out on her own on a job.

When Rose’s son gets kicked out of school because of “abnormal” behaviour (his Aunt Norah tells him scary stories about limping lobsters that lick mailboxes and decides to find out why the attraction. Licking his teacher’s leg being the last straw in a longer list of, in the school’s view, “Martian Child” behaviour. )

Post It Notes and DIY

“Don’t worry”, Rose reassuring herself as much as Oscar, her 8-year-old son. “You’ll never have to come back here again. I’ll figure it out”, a melancholy veil of pain, not hidden well, on her face, as she realizes, a good paying job is essential to secure a place for him in a private school. Through her lovers’ contacts, a married cop, played by Steve Zahn, she and her sister go DIY rogue, niche start up a business — a biohazard removal/crime scene clean-up service. Hence the title “Sunshine Cleaning”. “More upbeat”, as Rose proudly declares, distributing her business cards.

It takes strength and courage to admit the truth.

That set-up might have led the director, Christine Jeffs, to exploit the situation for forced comedic moments. Instead, she relied solely on the characters just doing what they have to do to get by, portrayed with conviction and honesty. Just plain, simple honesty. Only honesty is never easy. It’s simple, but it’s difficult. Kind of like life. It has the feel I got with the unlikeliness of steelworkers trying a Chippendale’s (The Full Monty) and running with that tender against-all-odds spirit.

Alan Arkin, with a diluted reprisal of his “Little Miss Sunshine” role, here less central but still essential to the story. He is sad and slightly pathetic in his attempts to make money in odd ways.

I guess the parallels to “Little Miss Sunshine” lie in the respective quest for self-respect. “Sunshine Cleaning” relies less on the dysfunctional, more on the low-pitched determination.

The poor girls are the cool chicks. The rich bitches, who hire Rose to clean their homes, are the losers. I like that.

No hyperboles here. It’s all real.

Of course, a marketing ploy when the poster reads “from the producers of Little Miss Sunshine” and the intentional similarities in titles. The trailer is misleading as the funniest moments are compiled in the two-minute clip. Seeing it a second time made me realize I sold it to my friends as a comedy. When actually, it was sad. But upbeat, sad, if that makes any sense. Funny, sad, up, down. Like real life.

If the marketing strategy generated a bigger box office take, I’m all for it.

I loved this film. And in my ratings, it gets an “awesomeness reigns” certificate. You’ll find it at streaming services near you.