Stars at Noon
There are times when “Stars at Noon” feels as though it simply meanders through its story, as well as doubles back and repeats itself. And yet, that didn’t take me out of the movie the way it normally would have. Claire Denis has done such a good job defining her characters, and the pull that brings them together, that we just follow them, even though we know they probably shouldn’t. Eventually, they kind of wonder whether they should continue with one another, but by then, they’re too deep together.
Trish (Margaret Qualley) is a freelance journalist who is in Nicaragua surviving by hooking up with the right people while she tries to find a story. She knows the real story she wants to try and get is in Coasta Rica, but her passport status is questionable, at this point; in the age of COVID, that’s not a fun place to be. One day, she meets Danial (Joe Alwyn), an Englishman, whom she seems drawn to, and not just because he seems like a great chance to get out of the country. As their lives become even further intertwined, however, he might not be the best person to be involved with.
The film is based on a novel by Denis Johnson, who originally set it during the Nicaraguan Revolution in the ’80s; by setting it in the modern day, Denis and co-writers Léa Mysius and Andrew Litvack, they still have political turmoil- an election is coming up, and tensions are high- but they also have anxiety about letting people in, or out, of the country for public health reasons. That doesn’t completely explain Trish’s situation, however. When we first see her, she is having sex with military officers for money, and she has contacts with politicians who might be able to help her out with her passport- certainly, she’s in with the right people, but she also feels a bit helpless, even though she’s in control of who- or what- she does. She clearly isn’t someone with enough clout to do whatever they want, though; we see a video call with her editor (John C. Reilly) who is done with her delusions of being a serious journalist, and would rather she write about howler monkeys. Getting in bed with Daniel is a choice that she makes, even if it leads to strife on her journey; but, it’s one she can live with until reality (in the form of a CIA agent, played by Bennie Safdie) tells her she can not. In a way, this is about survival for both of them, and that it doesn’t go into a conventional thriller narrative between them is a testament to Denis as a storyteller, having the understanding that tense narratives don’t have to end in gunfire.
Qualley and Alwyn are magnetic together. Denis understands what will captivate people about these two, and draws us into it. This is sensual and dangerous, but ultimately, it will all come back to Trish. How she finds herself where she is by the end is one of the great pleasures of the film. If “Stars at Noon” doesn’t connect with you early on because of its pacing, give it some time- it’s a rewarding experience.
