The Yellow Handkerchief

The Yellow Handkerchief is a placid movie. It never worries about being witty or interesting, and yet it becomes that naturally. It also never seeks out action or entertainment, but trusts in its own story, the power of its actors, and nuance to sell the film. The film concerns three drifters who go on a road trip to New Orleans for no reasons. Their actions are usually responsive rather than impulsive. The drifters are played by William Hurt in a brilliantly masked role, Kristen Stewart in a role that reaffirms her worth, and Eddie Redmayne as the strange young man who initiates the trip. Nothing much happens on the trip, but it has enough believable action to be entertaining while still maintaing its credibility. However, it is through these small actions of staying at a run-down hotel, watching poverty in the south fly by, and self-examination that the characters are fleshed out. We begin to learn things of the characters and make small assumptions about their character. Only a film with clearly defined characters who are expertly played can induce such examination. At times, Yellow Handkerchief seems too thought out for what it is. However, striking characters overcome such minor problems. The film is complex not in its story and its plot, but specifically in the way that it lets an audience consider its motives, and the motives of the characters. I compare the film to another film of similar placidity, In the Electric Mist. Like Mist, Handkerchief has no urgency to it, but our conclusions emerge from small facial expressions, winces, slight moves of the hand. This marks a confident film. Also like Electric Mist, The Yellow Handkerchief is a dreamy film, perhaps idealistic to the point of a much wanted fantasy world. The Yellow Handkerchief is one of the best films of 2010. And probably the best film Kristen Stewart has made so far in her young, but promising (excluding Twilight) career.
The Yellow Handkerchief: ★★★1/2