Franco and Brie star in “Together,” a Darkly Humorous Exploration of Codependency
Park City, UT – Alison Brie and Dave Franco, husband and wife, are generating buzz at the sundance Film festival with their new film, “Together.” The couple stars as a pair grappling with commitment issues and an unhealthy level of codependency, a theme that resonated deeply with Franco when he first read the script.”I read the script and I immediately turned to her and – she’s correct – I said ‘I’m forcing you to do this with me,'” Franco admitted on stage at the Eccles Theatre following the film’s world premiere. Brie corroborated his story, adding, “Dave read it first and decided we woudl do this together.”
The film, directed by Michael Shanks in his feature debut, centers on Tim (Franco) and Millie (Brie), a couple who relocate from their supportive city life to a remote town in the woods for Millie’s new teaching position. Despite a decade together,their relationship is in limbo,marked by a public proposal gone awry,Franco’s lack of employment and hobbies,and their inability to function independently.
Shanks explained that the initial inspiration for “Together” stemmed from exploring “the fear of losing yourself in a forever monogamous relationship in that kind of codependent way where you don’t know who you are without your partner and vice versa.” However, after seeing the audience’s reaction, he offered a more optimistic interpretation: “But, now to be speaking in front of a room of people that have actually seen the film, for me it’s a film about how love is gorgeous. And, hopefully, the ending – for what it is – is, you know, the ultimate commitment of ‘I love you, babe.'”
The couple’s journey takes a surreal turn when they drink mystical cave water after being trapped during a hike in a torrential storm. This leads to them being physically unable to separate, with limbs fusing and supernatural forces binding them together. While the film features unsettling imagery, Shanks emphasizes its comedic undertones, a reflection of his own worldview. “I find I watch, like, a horror or a sci-fi film and there’s no sense of levity, that’s just not my experience of life,” he stated. “I’ve laughed at funerals! All the darkest moments of life, there’s always humor. And just the absurdity of the thing, it wouldn’t have worked for me if we were just taking it deadly seriously the whole time.” This approach clearly resonated with the Sundance audience, who erupted in applause.
