Microhabitat (2018)

Microhabitat reveals the choices, sacrifices and comprises people make as they become adults.

Miso, the title character, makes a living cleaning houses and lives on the edge of homelessness. Her joys in life consist of cigarettes, a glass of Glenfiddich whiskey, and her poverty stricken boyfriend. When her rent increases and the price of cigarettes doubles she makes the decision to move out of her unfurnished room.

Miso then begins the adventure of visiting her old band mates who have moved on and become more of what society expected of them. It’s a movie divided into chapters, each with a different friend she encounters with her meager belongings on her back.

Each of her friends have changed so much she barely recognizes them. They are all tethered to their own suffering—a stressful job, a loveless marriage, unwanted motherhood, divorce, etc. Despite her situation she brings understanding and kindness to each doorstep even when she is met with a lack of understanding from her former friends.

Like a warm breeze blowing through their lives, each person’s quiet desperation is revealed and Miso’s contented nonconformist life doesn’t seem quite so absurd.

Microhabitat is more observation than strict storytelling. Esom brings a serene almost ethereal quality to the screen as she shows Miso’s quiet determination. Her friends’ “normal” lives seem almost manic in contrast.

Microhabitat touches on what we value, the compromises people make, the economic fragility of people’s situations, and the depth of friendships. It’s a slow film with moments of humor, tenderness, and biting revelation. Miso’s choices may not sit well with everyone but they raise questions about what brings us joy, what we are willing to sacrifice, and the need for safety nets we all need whether emotional or financial.

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Lately, I've been feeling this urge to whittle down my material possessions. Why do I say this here? Because seeing Miso lug around her suitcases while dealing with homelessness but remaining calm and collected is making me double down on that feeling. Why do we think we need so much stuff? Miso leads an unconventional life. The rising costs has her cutting down on expenses. She needs a place to stay. She stays with friends who have normal conventional lives - marriage, family, career, nice living arrangements, money.

But as viewers we are made to question if unhappy or discontented people stuck in the conventional trappings of life are any better than people who seemingly have it worse? Why is it okay/better/smarter to choose a house over cigarettes and whisky? I mean, yes, there are going to be many arguments for a safe, secure living quarter. But I think the bigger question should be why is everything so expensive and why should people who make less money have to struggle and scrimp and save all their lives and forgo what they enjoy just to have a roof over their heads, medicine, and food? Life is hard enough as it is. I'm happy Miso enjoys her smoke and her drink of whisky.

The director did a great job with this movie. Each character was interesting to me. There's so much we can talk about, discuss, ponder over because of this movie.

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