Introduction
Trust is an American drama film from 2021 directed by Brian DeCubellis and scripted by Kristen Lazarian, K.S. Bruce, and DeCubellis. The film was loosely inspired by Lazarian’s stage play Push. It targets the delicate nature of relationships and the ways distance, ambition, and betrayal may affect and fracture them.
The film takes place in contemporary New York and Paris. Each location is indicative of the emotional distance between the young couple. They are in love, but temptation and miscommunication test the trust in their relationship. The film is able to analyze the distinction between reality and appearance, and the decisions involved in fidelity, in addition to the emotional conflicts of the couple, as a result of the tone and style of the film.
Plot Summary
The movie starts with New York art gallery director Brook Gatwick and her husband, television journalist Owen Shore, who travels a lot for his work. At this time, Owen’s trips are frequent enough for Brook to feel isolated as she prepares for the opening of a big exhibit with an artist from Paris, Ansgar Doyle, who is charismatic.
Despite the happiness they projected, there were hidden fractures. Owen became suspicious of Brooke’s working relationship with Ansgar. He feared the collaboration would go beyond work, becoming something romantic. Meanwhile, Brooke was becoming concerned with Owen’s traveling, especially with the friendships abroad, one of which was with his work colleague, Amy.
Apart from present-day sequences, the film also creatively constructs the “what if” sequences. At these different junctions of the film, the audience is presented with “parallel” narratives, where in one, the characters act out their desires and in the other, they uphold their loyalty. The layering of these narratives is meant to keep the audience on their toes.
In the later stages of the plot, both Owen and Brooke must deal both with the facts along with the suspicions and/or insecurities of the other character. Brooke has to deal with the notions of being taken for granted, while Owen has to deal with the idea of his work being too far away and pulling away his the marriage. This culminates to the question: will there love stand the test of time if there is not trust and maybe not trust at all?
Main Characters
Brooke Gatwick (Played by Victoria Justice)
Brooke is intelligent, independent, and ambitious. She is an art gallery owner, and while proving herself passionate, determined, and eager, she is focused in her work. She also seeks reassurance and stillness appease the storm in her marriage. This feminist heroine, as Justice, has layered many of her performances to capture focus, strength and the contrast of being vulnerable to an audience.
Owen Shore (Played by Matthew Daddario)
Owen is a traveling journalist, which by default, creates an emotional distance in his relationship with his wife, Brooke. This also deals with the conflict and balance of personal and professional ambition. Daddario is Owen at his excessive charm, proving the contrast and immobility of insecurities by the weight of sincerity.
Ansgar Doyle (Lucien Laviscount)
Ansgar, based in Paris, is an artist and attention seeker. For Brooke, Ansgar is a combination of a professional prospect and a personal risk. Laviscount’s portrayal of Ansgar is confident and subtle, causing a tension of ambiguity as to whether Brooke’s interest is merely flirtatious or something more.
Amy (Katherine McNamara)
Amy is Owen’s colleague and a friend of his, and spends a considerable amount of time with him while on his work trips. This causes even more ambiguity for Brooke, who begins to question Owen’s relationships while overseas. Katherine McNamara imbues Amy with an aggressively warm ambiguity.
Themes
- Trust
The title in and of itself highlights the definitive central theme. The work examines how the mere suspicion of betrayal, with regard to intent, can inflict a relationship as much harm as actual betrayal.
- Ambition and Distance
The primary struggles facing Brooke and Owen are due to the demands of their respective professions. The narrative is a modern reflection of the dispassionate professional struggle, and how it is now distorting the personal closeness in relationships.
- Perception vs. Reality
To explore whether what we fear is factually justified, the use of alternate scenarios shifts storytelling approaches to make the audience aware of the ways perception can alter reality.
- Temptation and Choice
The film does not denounce the characters for their desires. Instead, it chooses to focus on the human dilemma of making decisions in less than ideal situations. Temptation is not the problem; it is how people choose to act in the face of it.
- Communication
All the couple’s problems boil down to a lack of communication. The unexpressed doubts of both Brooke and Owen form the silence that is the true barrier to their happiness.
Cinematic Style
The film is beautifully crafted in a contemporary manner and sophisticated style by director Brian DeCubellis. In New York, the focus is on sleek and modern interiors, artistic spaces, and the vibrance of urban energy. In contrast, Paris is romantic, artistic, and sensual. This imagery of contrasting cities is a reflection of Brooke’s emotional state: stability in New York versus passion and temptation in Paris.
Close-ups and polished framing captures the glamour of the art world and the intimacy of personal conversations. With regard to the characters and their states of mind, the lighting and warmth changes. It is bright and warm at moments of harmony and cool and shadowed when moments of doubt arise.
The film’s storytelling, where multiple possible outcomes are shown, is playful yet thought-provoking. The editing is so smooth that the viewers are most often left uncertain as to which version of events is real, until the story clarifies the narrative.
The seamlessly blended score features contemporary and romantic sounds which align with the visuals and the emotional shifts of the characters, and provide a modern counterbalance to the performances.
Reception
On release, Trust amassed mixed reviews though found popularity, especially with streaming audiences interested in relationship dramas. It was particularly noted for the stylish visuals and the chemistry of the cast, especially Victoria Justice and Matthew Daddario, who voiced warmth and sincerity to their characters.
Critics who found the film heavily ingrained with melodrama were countered by others who found its uncertainty and perception to be more thought provoking. Its narrative structure which features alternate scenarios was considered a problem for some viewers and a complement to others.
However, the film found its audience in those who wanted a modern love story centered around characters, particularly the difficulties in upholding trust in a world filled with rapid change and numerous distractions.
Conclusion
Trust (2021) focuses on love, loyalty, and the ramifications of betrayal. It follows a couple who, despite their sincere love for one another, face challenges brought on by ambition, distance, and outer enticements. Unlike other films, this one seeks to communicate a message by leaving the audience with the question of what trust and devotion really mean to them instead of giving them straightforward answers.
Thus, for Trust, the challenges of stylish direction and impressive performances are surpassed by the need to examine the message and its treatment, as they deal with fundamentals of life and human relationships. The film, more than the intrigue of temptation and the shimmering world of art, focuses on the essentials: communication and the need to confront one’s own demons for the personal.
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