‘Toll’ Review: Maeve Jinkings' Suellen hits close to home in Carolina Markowicz's heartfelt but heavy-handed flick
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: ‘Toll’ under the skilled direction of Carolina Markowicz, isn't your typical movie; it's a heartfelt reflection into the lives of everyday Brazilians, capturing the raw essence of their struggles right from the get-go.
‘Toll’ follows Suellen (Maeve Jinkings), a toll booth attendant, who grabs your attention from the very first still.
Struggling to make ends meet, Suellen seizes an opportunity to aid a gang of thieves, hoping to secure funds for her queer son Toninho's (Kauan Alvarenga) admission at an expensive conversion workshop led by a well-known priest.
Throughout the movie, the mother and son duo deal with the challenges of adolescence and adulthood against the backdrop of societal expectations.
The heart of Carolina Markowicz's film ‘Toll’ lies in its theme
Markowicz adeptly explores themes of sexuality and masculinity, throwing in some online drama to spice things up, all while Suellen dreams of a quiet life, liberated from societal judgments.
The heart of the film ‘Toll’ lies in its theme — hypocrisy, gently incorporated into the narrative to shed light on societal double standards and unspoken norms.
‘Toll’ exposes characters who wield religion to justify prejudices against the LGBTQIA+ community, laying bare the ignorance that often accompanies such biases. The film fearlessly confronts the stubborn persistence of conversion therapy, urging viewers to shake off outdated beliefs.
Maeve Jinkings' character Suellen hits close to home
Maeve Jinkings breathes life into Suellen, imbuing her character with depth and authenticity. Suellen's inner battles and growing self-awareness go beyond just being a character, making her someone we can all relate to.
Markowicz's skillful direction, coupled with Luis Armando Arteaga's camera work, draws you into the film. The deliberate use of a distant, static camera in Suellen's toll booth scenes doesn't just add to the film's sense of confinement; it practically brings the audience into her world.
While to some extent ‘Toll’ might fall short on character development, particularly for Toninho, the film's exploration of modern societal issues stands out.
Toll’s impact lingers well after its conclusion
In essence, ‘Toll’ surpasses the confines of a traditional movie; it stands out as a genuine exploration of societal contradictions. Jinkings' profound performance, coupled with the film's unflinching deconstruction of hypocrisy, solidifies its status as a meaningful addition to Brazilian cinema.
Markowicz's storytelling finesse and the film's impactful themes resonate authentically, producing a narrative that not only detangles the struggles of its characters but also holds up a mirror to the contradictions and complexities in our shared human journey.
As we ponder the nuances revealed in ‘Toll’, it's clear that the film goes beyond being just a piece of cinema; it serves as a reflection of our society struggling with its own contradictions.
By getting sucked in deep into Suellen and Toninho's lives, Markowicz encourages us to confront our prejudices, question outdated beliefs, and welcome the diverse richness of the human experience.
‘Toll’s impact lingers well after its conclusion, imprinting on the viewer's awareness and fostering a broader dialogue about acceptance, understanding, and the continuous quest for a more inclusive society.