The Cake Eaters

In an attempt to catch up with Kristen Stewart's entire back catalogue, we sat down to watch "The Cake Eaters". I will admit, I didn't really expect much out of this film - there were only a few copies available to rent and I hadn't heard anything much about it. If you look at the DVD cover you'll notice that Kristen Stewart's face is displayed prominently, which makes it seem like the studio is capitalising on her sudden popularity via "Twilight" in order to promote the film*. This is a clever move - I probably wouldn't have even noticed it, if not for our interest in all things Kristen!

The movie has no real central character - they are all as important as each other in telling the story, but Kristen turns in a moving performance as Georgia, a 16 year old girl afflicted with a genetic neurological disorder called Friedreich's Ataxia. Her mother, step-father and grandmother all take care of her but you can see how much she wishes to escape the constant supervision as much as the burden of her disease. Her counterpart in the movie is Beagle, a man who lives with his father after they lose his mother to diabetic complications, and the family's prodigal son, Guy, who returns home after failing to establish a music career in New York. The movie was written by Jayce Bartok, who plays Guy, and was directed by Mary Stuart Masterson. It's a quiet tale, one told with sensitivity and realism. The touchy subject of adolescent sexuality, especially as it applies to disabled youth, is handled with dignity. I definitely recommend it even if you are not necessarily a fan of Kristen.

This interview with Jayce Bartok explains the name of the film.

*Relating to this theory, the official 'The Cake Eaters' blog will give you an opportunity to win a free movie poster.