Any mildly neurotic to severely psychotic artists out there? Hm, yes, the target audience for this one is going to be tight. But if my title fits you, or if you're somehow trying to figure out how to deal with one of those types, then this will be a real treat.
"White Rabbit" follows 2 weeks in the life of "Sophia" (Vivian Bang) who is a freelance performance artist in LA. Or as she explains to her mother, "I make things you can't sell." Over the course of 2 weeks we witness her professional crisis, relationship crisis, and an overall life crisis in a very quirky and personal way. Although imdb lists this as a comedy drama, don't expect any gags, punchlines and LOLs because it's not that kind of comedy. It's more like the comedy of real life where there's no laugh track to our disasters, but objectively looking at it, it's just bizarre enough to be funny.
The interesting angle is that Sophia is a 1st generation Korean American who is trying her hardest to spin a racial discussion even though none exists. For example, one of her routines is a dramatic monologue about the LA riots and the media's coverage of black-on-Korean violence. Yes, 15 years prior. As such, her audience (strangers in the park) react with a mix of lukewarm politeness and complete disregard.
As the story unfolds, we see a similar attitude she has in her relationships (fabricating drama that doesn't necessarily apply). And ultimately we realize that Sophia is the perfect personification of passion without direction, or perhaps the Shakesperean "sound and fury signifying nothing". Still, we are instantly hooked, wondering if this girl will pull herself together or if it'll end in "the way to dusty death."
I thought the acting was fantastic all around, with real world type dialogue (such as people talking over each other, or not necessarily finishing sentences), giving this film a very personal and familiar flavor, as if we're hanging out with friends.
There aren't too many flicks like this, but I might group it alongside other quirky dramas like "Punch Drunk Love" or an obscure 2009 gem about misdirected artists & musicians called "(untitled)".
