Written by Dana White, and co-directed alongside Christopher Knoblock, Magan, a ride-share driver, takes Jorani, an older woman with mild dementia, back to her nursing home, to discover that the facility has given up her bed. Magan must now figure out what to do and decide how far he will go to help her. Starring: Barkhad Abdi and Alexis Rhee.
In this day and age, a reminder of how big of an impact a small gesture of compassion and humanity can have, is always appreciated. That’s exactly what you get with Magan’s Fare, a story of understanding and patience, giving someone the time and space to ask for help. It’s classically kind and wholesome, but there’s also a deep sadness running beneath that. It has a certain charming simplicity, exploring the impacts of life’s hardships in a transparent and gentle.
That’s then nicely reflected with the quality of the direction from Dana White and Christopher Knoblock. It holds a sincerely thoughtful style, especially when paired with Dana White’s editing, allowing it to move gradually and pensively, but never slowly. They bring through a lot of wider landscape shots which was a great addition to remind of the bigger picture of this story, working alongside its intimacy. They’re also very satisfying scenes to watch, with the help of Dylan O’Brien’s strong and crisp cinematography which has a lovely depth to it. All those elements are then complemented so well by the score which leans on strings in a very affective manner.
Of course, you then have to add in an absolutely key factor in telling this sweet yet melancholic story, which is the cast. Barkhad Abdi and Alexis Rhee were fantastic choices, both individually strong actors but they also have such a natural chemistry together. Abdi gives such a patient, generous and loyal performance, creating a dedicated family man who’s always going the extra mile to try and make everyone happy, while ignoring his own needs. Rhee then adds a rather unusual note with Jorani, initially she’s a puzzle for viewers to figure out but as she comes out of her shell, she builds a complex presence. She has a lot of grief and a sense of being adrift but as she opens up even more, it’s fascinating to watch how similar she actually is to Abdi’s Magan.
Magan’s Fare is thoughtful and compelling. A gentle story of recognising when someone needs help and not forcing it upon them but quietly giving them the option to accept a helping hand and a sympathetic ear. Barkhad Abdi and Alexis Rhee are an excellent pair, it’s heart-warming to watch their friendship develop, it’s sweet and wholesome. The direction from Dana White, and Christopher Knoblock nicely reflects the kindness within this story and there’s equally strong work in the editing, cinematography and score.
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