Written and directed by leading actress Scarlet Moreno, in the late 1960’s a woman finds herself on an endless search for a man who will love her for who she is. Also starring: Zach Tinker.
There is quickly a great point to be found in Velma about social pressures and judgement that are placed upon women, from decades ago continuing up to today, although thankfully some progress has been made along the way. It delves into women’s relationships with sex and how it can so easily translate into internalised shame, and then be compacted by loneliness, which then unlocks a whole world of damaged self-value. It’s a very relevant topic but it feels as though Scarlet Moreno does a great job to communicate all of that within the first few minutes and then lingers on it.
In an attempt to strengthen and explore how these experiences can become a nasty cycle, it sadly becomes a bit repetitive. It had the time and space to expand but stayed on the same path, feeling like the old adage of doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Moving into the territory of resignment and self-punishment, which don’t feel as strong themes. Then when it arrives at its big crescendo to mix things up, it hasn’t built the foundation for that new element, making it feel rather unsatisfying and lacking punch.
Although, it’s shot very well, it has a great colour and there’s a very purposeful note to the way that it moves. It has a familiar structure that you’d find in a lot of 1960s film, particularly in its use of narration as an inner monologue and reflection. There’s also a nice nod to an early 1960s classic film, which will give away too much if mentioned by name. The choice of song works really well to begin with but as you approach the ending it has added a morose air which stops it from hitting louder, impactful notes for its finale.
Velma has a great point to make but seems to struggle to find where to go after it’s been made. The direction and editing are well done, there’s a nice use of the female gaze and a strong focus on the leading character. Scarlet Moreno’s performance does a great job of translating all the psychological elements of Velma’s experience, even without the narration. There’s a lot of strong aspects but it simply gets stuck on one path and needed to break out and give itself a bit of variety to do justice to its potential.
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