SACRAMENTO

US, 2024, 89 minutes, Colour.

Michael Cera, Kristin Stewart, Michael Angarano, Maya Erskine, Rosalind Chao, Michael P. Angarano Sr.

Directed by Michael Angarano.

Sacramento, the capital of California, is the destination for the journey in this film, a road film from Los Angeles to Sacramento. However, Sacramento is also symbolic of the quest, a state of mind for the two central characters.

Sacramento has been written and directed by actor, Michael Angareno, who started his film career when very young. He is now moving into middle age and this is a middle-aged male story, not just of the character he plays, Ricky, but also of his longtime friend, now alienated, Glenn. It is their road movie.

Over the years Michael Cera has played a number of characters who are edgy, sometimes timid, sometimes forthright, but often with a touch of mental troubles. This time, as Glenn, he has been married for four years, his wife, played by Kristin Stewart, is about to give birth. But, she is the calm person, working, commonsensed, understanding and supportive of her husband even when he is exasperating. And, exasperating he often is, panic attacks, loss of job, prepared to be home parent, but almost throttling a cot they have bought which is not solid enough for him.

And we have been introduced to Ricky, wandering, erratic, casual encounters, one partner, Tally, I didn’t been giving birth but avoiding Ricky, going to live in Sacramento with the child. But, Ricki fancies himself as being able to read people, goes to discussion groups, intervening, and off.

So he decides to make contact with Glenn, persuade him to accompany him to Sacramento to scatter the ashes of his father. On the way, and exasperated, Ricki always on for the con, then the encounters with tally and the baby and matters going completely skew with.

Probably best to be an open mood in approaching Sacramento, maybe some difficulties and accepting the two characters, but, they are what some people are like, they need some help, some affirmation, some possibilities of breaking through past difficulties in finding a future.

1. The title, the destination, a state of mind?
2. Los Angeles story, the suburbs, homes, social groups? On the road, Northwest, the scenery, the stops along the way? The city of Sacramento, the views, homes, the river? The musical score?
3. The introduction to Glenn, sunbaking, reading, the woman calling out, into the water? Then discovering that he was four years married, Rosie pregnant? The introduction to Ricky, seeing with Tallie?
4. The film about mental issues? Glenn, anxiety, his job, loss of the job, symbolised in his breaking up the cot, Rosie understanding him, keeping him calm? Can Ricky and his being with Tallie?
5. Glenn’s story, his past, nerves, panic attacks, fatherhood, his relationship with Rosie, at home, her commonsense, keeping calm, accepting the pregnancy, going to work, content at being a house parent?
6. Ricky, age, temperament, going to the group, intervening, his theories, his jargon, the reaction of the doctor? The other members of the group and his interventions? The doctor warning him off? Yet his enthusiasm?
7. The background of Ricky and Glenn, growing up together, the friendship, the distance? Ricky his decision to contact Glenn? Arriving, trying to hide? Rosie’s response?
8. The two men talking, the significance of their mental upset, repercussions for their conversations? Behaviour? Glenn trying to avoid Ricky? Ricky persevering?
9. Ricky wanting to go to Sacramento, his explanation, the death of his father, coming from Sacramento, to scatter the ashes in the ocean? Glenn’s reaction, unwilling, disbelief? Out and the diner? Glenn and his motivations? Contacting Rosie?
10. The journey, an Odyssey, the gradual revelation of Ricky’s intentions, scraping up ashes to scatter, accommodation, his prized car, stopovers on the way, Glenn and his reactions, suspicions? Yet continuing on? The scattering the ashes and the clunk on the concrete?
11. Arriving at Tallie’s house, the real reason for coming, the flashbacks and the relationship between the two, the casual acquaintance, her pregnancy? The birth? Her character, reaction to Ricky, wanting gone, his continual perseverance in arguing with her? Wearing her down? Her treatment of the baby?
12. Her puzzle about Glenn, his sitting, observing, the phone calls with Rosie, knowing the truth about Glenn’s father? Going to the toilet, going to the baby, the cot and shaking it, taking the baby, driving off? At the service station?
13. Tallie’s panic, the scooter, catching Glenn, the arguments, unlocking the car, retrieving the baby? The cathartic moments for them all?
14. The year later, Ricky and the group, intervening, the discussions with Sal and his life and his case? The contrast with Glenn, the baby, getting some work done, the friendship with Ricky? Going home to Rosie and the baby?