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Millennial Meltdown: Artist Films Own Existential Crisis
14 Sep
Summary
- Filmmaker Matt Barats stars as a young creative navigating a breakup.
- The film revisits archival DV footage from the protagonist's college years.
- The movie utilizes a lo-fi aesthetic mirroring the character's malaise.
Matt Barats's "Anchors Aweigh" presents a millennial meltdown through the lens of a vaguely employed NYC creative. Following a relationship's end, the protagonist retreats into his past, alternating between reviewing DV tapes from his youth and recording introspective monologues. The film, produced by Abso Lutely Productions, embraces cringe comedy and nostalgic media formats, drawing parallels to "Nathan For You" and "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!."
Drawing inspiration from Ross McElwee's "Sherman's March," Barats adopts a self-deprecating persona. His character grapples with his age, past choices, and a perceived wasted life, noting his prolonged immaturity. The film’s present-day footage, largely shot on lo-fi digital cameras, visually complements the character's temporal stasis and existential funk.
