Though some may call Jessica Hausnernew movie about eating disorders at an elite school is brash, not a lot of brashness Club Zero once you get past a couple of really disgusting scenes. Under the direction of Mia Wasikowska like a strange Miss Novak, Club Zero follows a group of students who practice “mindful eating” under the guidance of their teacher. Hausner paints the film in soft pastels and symmetrical framing, making every scene look overly groomed. It pays off by creating a world that is both aesthetically pleasing and emotionally sterile. While the group of actors playing students put on a strong performance, especially Luke Barker, Xenia DevrindtAnd Florence BakerHausner’s twisty streak eventually ends with no real ending.
“Club Zero” is useless
Club Zero opens in a privileged, elite school. Students wear unisex uniforms, some live at the school and others live with their wealthy parents. It is at this school that we meet the new teacher, Miss Novak. Recruited by the PTA, Miss Novak works as a nutritionist… sort of. Her methods are soon revealed after she gathers her students. Her students range from those who are trying to be more health conscious, to those who are concerned about our impact on the environment, to those who are just trying to get more points for their classes.
What begins as an experiment in “conscious eating” (a fake method of eating that requires the person eating to think about every bite) turns into more drastic measures that encourage eating disorders and starvation. When Miss Novak encourages a cult mentality, her students, already vulnerable, quickly succumb to indoctrination. Students become more and more committed to the cause, believing they simply don’t need to eat anymore, but we have never given a firm purpose to Ms. Novak’s teachings.
Jessica Hausner struggles to come to a conclusion with a message
Club Zero moves at a grueling pace at times, with little to shock or surprise the audience in the narrative. One scene in which one of the students throws up and then eats her own vomit again is disgusting and should be, but Hausner does little to suggest anything unpredictable in the film.
As the story goes on, the students become more and more devoted to Miss Novak, and their parents begin to feel real anxiety. At first, it seems like only one of the parents really cares about this, but after seeing their children starving, anxiety finally sets in. The tone of the film borders on the satirical, though not entirely. Luckily, Wasikowska totally leans towards the strange and determined Ms. Nowak. Her performance solidifies the film and adds foundation no matter what.
It may surprise some that what is happening in Club Zero, at least when it comes to people willingly starving themselves, a practice some even pay for. Some health centers offer people the opportunity to starve themselves to death for a hefty price. While these actual events are not mentioned, it seems that the film’s satirical aspect would have benefited from more explicit comparisons. After all, Hausner’s vision for Club Zero purely. He has a clear aesthetic vision, but what gets confusing is the real story that ends with an ending that just fizzles out.
Rating: WITH-
Club Zero world premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.
Source: Collider
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