I'm a fan of both Nicole Holofcener and Catherine Keener as well as their past efforts "Lovely and Amazing" and "Walking and Talking." Holofcener writes parts for women that only a woman could write. In "Please Give" most of the main characters are women, and Keener takes the lead. She is a rich woman who has a vintage furniture business with her husband. As stated by her husband in the movie, "We buy furniture from dead people's children." Keener's character has a bit of a problem with this. Is it moral? To put her anxiety to rest she hands out money to nearly every homeless person on the street, and she won't buy her daughter overpriced jeans. In one scene Keener goes to hand a homeless man 20 dollars and her daughter grabs it and tells her to give him less. It's an interesting breakdown of an issue because who deserves the money more? Keeners character dresses well and obviously spends money on overpriced goods.. shouldn't her daughter live the same way? or should she spare 20 dollars to a homeless man?
The film deals with money, aging, consumerist culture, marriage.. it's a good mix of social issues. "Please Give," is both funny and sad, and it moves pretty fast.
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