Martin Donovan’s ‘Collaborator’ is one of the films with a scintillating opening scene I’ve seen in the recent time. A not-so-happy appearing man lazily walks down the road with no clue of where he’s heading and in the background you hear the voice of a man and woman – radio announcers who are orating to the listeners about Robert Longfellow, once-successful critically acclaimed writer whose latest production has been severely panned by the critics. The man in discussion and the one walking down the road are one and the same.
After his latest Broadway play has been adjudged a dud, writer Robert Longfellow in sheer disappointm
ent takes a stroll down the memory lane and visits his childhood home where now his mom resides. At the house, Robert reaches out to his old flame, Emma Stiles, with whom he hopes to rekindle muddled romance. However, one night when Robert’s all ready to go and extinguish his sexual pleasure, an old friend Gus shows up at his porch and requests Robert to spend few minutes with him over some cold beer. Having served time for assaulting a cop, Robert fears from the inside to have Gus in his house. Few minutes later, cops arrive at Robert’s house in search of Gus in connection with a recent hold up in a local store. Gus takes Robert as hostage and locks himself in the house. The two indulge in a life changing conversation leading to an overwhelming climax.
Written and Directed by Martin Donovan, Collaborator is a twisted film in narration as well as screenplay. Robert in the film goes through a writers’ block and he adds it in his narration as well, giving the film a touch of perfection. The story starts off as a play with background narration and crowd booing at Robert and it ends as a play with a standing ovation and triumphant clapping in the background. In essence; Robert who plays a writer in the film actually narrates to us a story from his own life, which gives the feeling of a chamber play.
David Morse, another brilliant actor plays Gus in this film. A heartbroken, prison-returned alcoholic, he lives with his
mom and spends most of his time drinking beer. His relationship with Robert is unwavering and ego-free. Although Gus envies Robert’s affluent life, he also mocks at his inability maintain a healthy relationship with his loved ones. For example; Robert’s troubled marriage which’s almost coming to an end.
The film holds you by your collars with its 82 minutes running time and succeeds in evoking interest. While the plot seems quite simple and convincing, it’s the conversation between Robert and Gus spanning from Gus’s passion for theatre, war, fidelity and a fictional interview scene to the telephonic discussion with Emma kept me hooked throughout.
‘Collaborator’ is a film of few words carried brilliantly by its protagonists.
