VIVA

Written, Directed, Produced and Starring Anna Biller

The freewheeling 70’s.  I remember them.  I was 5.  I loved Charlie’s Angels and Wonder Woman.  Little did I know that Russ Meyer and other filmmakers were busy creating the sexploitation films that Viva emulates.  Ms. Anna Biller the creator behind Viva took inspiration from these type of films and the spirit, fashions and art of the rollicking 70’s and created a postcard to the time and the role reversals of women in society. 

From the first frame of this movie, it is obvious that it is set in the 70’s.  Biller, got the art direction right.  It feels as if it is an undiscovered film of the period.  The acting, style, costumes and music seem very authentic.  Honestly, it seemed just a little much at times.  I felt like some of the references to the time period were over kill.  I get it.  It’s the 70’s.

The story is fairly simple.  Barbie (Biller) is left alone to amuse herself as her Ken doll husband (the handsome Chad England) works a lot.  Her lecherous neighbor Mark (Jared Sanford) and his wife Sheila (Bridget Brno) keep her occupied while her husband is away.  Barbie, is a little lonely and wants to find her place in the world.  She decides to become a model.  All of her friends tell her it’s a good idea.  She goes to get a makeover and a new hairstyle when she is drugged and raped.  Barbie does not come home that night and her husband winds up in the hospital.  Barbie decides to devote herself entirely to her husband. 

Her husband gets a little tired of his life and decides to go on a skiing trip for a month, leaving Barbie at home.  She is angry and sad and calls her neighbor.  She discovers that Sheila has left Mark, so the two women decide to go and find themselves.  They dress like hookers and get mistaken for them.  They become prostitutes. And Barbie decides to rename herself Viva for her favorite porno mag. Sheila meets an old man and decides to become his companion for the free diamonds.  Barbie, is looking for love.  She finds an artist and becomes his live in girlfriend, though she refuses to have sex with him.  She does have a bisexual affair with one of her boyfriends models.  Everyone loves her and wants to have sex with her.  An orgy is orchestrated with Barbie as the course dujour. 

She learns that she has lost herself.  To find Barbie again she goes home to win back her husband.  She finds the ‘Viva’ in Barbie and becomes a Broadway star.  Wow!

Now, that sounds crazy right?  Remember, it’s a 1970’s sexploitation film.  Those plots were always a little crazy.  To the credit of Biller, I seemed to buy into most of it without any problems.  The downside…. The film feels a little long and would greatly benefit by being cut down just a bit.  Some of the dialogue is cheesy, as is some of the over the top acting.  Trying to recapture the silliness of the 70’s today is just difficult.  It comes out a little forced and contrived.  But visually this film is fantastic.  It looks like a great print from the period.  And the two female leads are wonderful. 

Making a film is one of the most difficult things in the world to do.  Biller did everything in this movie.  She did animation, art, costumes, wrote music, played instruments, not to mention, direct, wrote, produced and starred in the film.  She is an amazing woman with a lot of talent.  Keep your eye out for her in the future.

Kristoffer