Levity

Directed and written by: Ed Solomon

Memorable quotes:

Manuel Jordan: What I remember most from before is people's voices. Kind of bloating on the wind, and laughing, like everybody was in on something, like it all mattered somehow.

Manuel Jordan: "I know what I did and I don't want forgiveness from you or anybody else. I don't deserve it, and with respect, I'm happy here.
Woman on the parole board: Happy?
Manuel: Well, I mean... I think it's right. I think I belong here."

Manuel:  I read a book that was written in the 11th century. A man said that there was five steps toward making amends. The first involved acknowledging what you did. The second involved remorse. The third involved making right with your neighbor. Like if you stole his chicken, you'd have to go and bring him another. Only then were you able to go to step four, which was making it right with God. But it wasn't until step five that you could really get redeemed. It had to do with being at the same place and the same situation. That as it goes, you'd go and do something different. Only I can't bring Abner Easley back like he was some stolen chicken. Certainly made sure of that 23 years ago. And I don't believe in some God that's gonna open his arms to me even if I did. So, there goes steps three and four. And as for step five, time makes sure we're never in the same place twice, no matter how much we wish it. Which is why, for me, I know I'll never be redeemed.

Sofia Mellinger: "Where is Dwayne?
Manuel: I don't know Dwayne.
Sofia: I think Dwayne is burning in hell."

Miles Evans: "For pay, I got a room at a hundred dollars a month, which you can work down to nothing if you'll help with cleaning.
Manuel:  What makes you think I need a room?
Miles Evans:  God told me. You're carrying your damn suitcase, man... You think God talks to me? We argue maybe, but he don't participate. It's all right. I'll see him one day. When I do, I'm gonna whip his holy ass."

Miles Evans: "Why are you here?
Manuel: You called me.
Miles Evans: I called Dwayne. Why are you in this city.
Manuel: I don't know."

Miles Evans: I don't need you to believe. I just need you to clean.

Miles Evans: You don't know what the hell you talking about, do you? Why be afraid of a God you don't believe on?

Club employee: "So, you're the new guy, huh?
Manuel: Yeah, I guess.
Club employee: So, what's up with that guy over there, preacher guy?
Manuel: I wouldn't have any idea."

Club employee: These rich kids man, they come from the suburbs. I don't even know why they bother when they spend half the time unconscious.

Sofia: "Are you sure we didn't...?
Manuel: Go home and go to sleep."

Manuel: "I can help you carry those bags if you like... Scuze me, I  can help you carry those bags if you like.
Adele Easley: You wanna carry my bags?
Manuel: Yes, ma'am.
Adele: Do I know you?
Manuel: No, ma'am.
Adele: Then why you wanna carry my bags?
Manuel: I just like to help.
Adele: You just like to help?
Manuel: Yes, ma'am."

Adele: "I sensed someone following me. Was that you?
Manuel: Yes, ma'am."

Adele: I think it's best then maybe not. But thank you anyway.

Miles Evans: Are you dancing toward something, or away from something? In other words: you dancing for pleasure, or you dancing for joy?

Miles Evans: If you wanna help yourself, try helping somebody else.

Adele: "You again?
Manuel: Ma'am, I didn't mean to scare you the other day.
Adele: You been following me?
Manuel: Waiting for you."

Manuel: "Honestly, I have no intentions of harming you at all. I was just wondering if maybe we could have a conversation.
Adele: A conversation?
Manuel: Yes, ma'am. I brought you this.
Adele: Now, how am I gonna be able to carry a rose?
Manuel: Maybe if I help you carry the bags, then you can carry the rose."

Adele: "You're making me a little nervous now.
Manuel: Oh, I'm sorry."

Adele: "I need you to speak more formally.
Manuel: I'm sorry?
Adele: I'm joking."

Adele: "My brother. He is a statistic.
Manuel: I'm sorry.
Adele: I know. Everybody is."

Manuel: "You seem okay.
Adele: You don't know me."

Adele: "I lost track. Did we have our conversation or not?
Manuel: Not, not really.
Adele: Was this conversation about asking me out? Cause I'll be honest: Over the years I've lowered my standards."

Adele: "Nobody ever accused you of having an overly acute sense of humour, did they?
Manuel: Me?
Adele: My point exactly."

Young man being watched by Miles Evans:  "Pussy.
Sofia: Oh, you know what they say: 'you are what you eat'."

Manuel: Do you understand me? I'm not Dwayne. Not that you would remember anybody's name the way you poison yourself to death.

Manuel: You're a young person. You got the means. You got everything you want. Instead, you're just wasting space. You know that?

Manuel: I took you home. Last week. You don't remember... that's pathetic.

Adele: "I should have done things different. I was just trying to deal.
Manuel: Deal with what?
Adele: Living."

Manuel: "I'm not what you think I am.
Adele: I don't care."

Sofia: What is that? Your icy stare you learned in prison or something?

Manuel: "Why do you do that to yourself?
Sofia: What?
Manuel: In there, in that place at night.
Sofia: It's just dancing.
Manuel: Why are you trying to kill yourself?"

Sofia: Nice raising a 42 years-old, is it?

Sofia: By the way, if you decide you can't make it in free society and feel the urge to kill again...

Manuel: "Images.
Sofia: What do you mean?
Manuel: I mostly just remember images."

Sofia: "Why were you doing it?
Manuel: I think...
Sofia: Manuel?
Manuel: I think I was angry. Yeah... I remember his face. He kinda turned and he was looking at me. He was looking at me so strange. I remember his face. He kept looking at me and I was looking at him, and he just looked at me so funny. He looked at me like he knew something I didn't know and... I did it.  It was like something was just passing through me.
Sofia: I don't understand...Manuel?
Manuel: It seemed like it took just a few seconds and forever. "

Miles Evans: "I don't care what you did. I mean, sometimes I wish I could have done the same thing.
Manuel: No, you don't.
Miles: I said wish, not did."

Miles Evans: Manuel, what's done is done.

Adele: "They said he die. probably did if there is any justice.
Manuel: Do you think there is?
Adele: For criminals, not for the rest of us. Unless there is a God. And then...well... then all bets are off.
Manuel: Do you think there is a God?
Adele: No, thank God, because I've done some bad things."

Manuel: "I don't know why God made me the why I am. Or whoever did it. Certainly not proud of who I am.
Abner Easley: We're all capable of anything. I know that now. Me? I could have been anything: Farmer, businessman... Just one more body out of the billions. What are you thinking about?
Manuel: I don't know. Gravity.
Abner Easley: Yeah well, don't last long. "

Abner Jr: "I know you're a friend of my mum. But what's right is right.
Manuel: According to who?"

Abner Jr: "Dude left town. It's over.
Adele: What do you mean 'Dude left town'? What is this? The Wild Wild West?"

Manuel: "I'm not who you think I am.
Adele: Nevermind.
Manuel: No, you don't understand.
Adele: You seriously don't know me.
Manuel: I wish you wouldn't say that."

Adele: "It's okay.
Manuel: What's okay?
Adele: Whatever."

Club employee: She's been puking and she's been asking for God-boy.

Sofia: "You smell like sex.
Manuel: Well, you smell like puke."

Manuel: "I just wanted to help her.
Miles Evans: You wanted too much from her.
Manuel: What do you mean?
Miles Evans: That's why you came back Manuel. Not to help her. To ask for forgiveness.
Manuel: I want to help her.
Miles: Lie to others Manuel. Don't lie to yourself."

Miles: "Sorry, I can't help you. You're on your own.
Manuel: Miles!
Miles: My name is John."

Manuel: Instead of thinking about what he did, you know, try thinking about what he did for you guys.

Manuel: As if by doing some number of good things now I could make up for one very bad thing then.

Manuel:" Can I come see you?
Adele: No, please. Please, don't ever come too see me, ever. This is my town. It's my house. You got the rest of the world."

Manuel: They like you. You make them laugh.

Sofia: "I don't know what I'm supposed to do.
Manuel: Well, neither do I, but you'll think of something, okay?"

Plot:

Nearly two decades ago, Manuel Jordan killed a 19 years old teenager in an attempted robbery. Now in his forties, Manuel adjusted well in jail, where he feels like he belongs because of what he did. Despite his apprehension, he gets parole from a life sentence and recovers his freedom. He decides to go back to the only town he's ever really known, which is also the one where he committed murder. Living and working at a community house, he finds help from a peculiar preacher, and also tries to help a confused and lonely young woman. Most importantly, Manuel wants redemption. He thus decides to approach the sister of the teenager whose life he took...

Review:

Levity is an inspiring movie and as such, it failed to meet Hollywood's standard and is thus relatively unknown. I don't why each time a film doesn't fit under the blockbuster category, which usually implies gunfights, chase, special effects and naked women, they unfortunately don't get as much attention from the media, leaving the public unaware that a great movie has just been made.
I usually hate being told what to think, do, like, watch or listen to, so I can only loath the fact that Hollywood is practically forcing some movies on us, whereas others are not given any attention. This is rather despicable and I am glad I still found out about Levity.
This movie is absolutely fantastic.
I feel like -in some extent- we all carry our very own burden, and some of us do harbour guilt (although it's not always justified) more than others. Levity is about a man named Manuel Jordan, who carries a very very heavy burden: he took a life.
I'd say that the movie explores how Manuel must learn that, eventually, what's done is done, and you can only carry on. At first, Manuel is completely fazed by the world. He walks one step behind everybody, as if he was a shadow lurking in the dark. It seems like he believed that you only get to have done something terrible to be haunted, only to realize that the world is full of haunted people, people who are also feeling lost.
I feel like the title is almost a life-lesson in itself: Levity. There is a great quote from this film stating that gravity doesn't last long. It is thus implied, according to me, that levity, which is the opposite of gravity, almost forces its presence on us. Things can get really bad, but the world is going to keep spinning nonetheless. Once out of jail, Manuel must learn that even though he did something terribly wrong, he changed, and he is still part of all those billions of  people leaving on earth. As such, I thought that the ending was really smart. Manuel-although it is unsure whereas Adele Easley (the sister of the teenager he murdered) forgave him- is still saved by her, and I think that approaching her helped him just as much as he helped her. When he leaves town, it can be seen that he left the picture of Abner Easley behind, a sign that he is ready to move forward. He is even walking with the crowd this time, which I thought was a powerful image, as though he was ready to be part of a society he was once angry at, and left for years.
The subject of this film is an especially tough one, and it is explored skilfully. The film smartly shows how you cannot forgive everything or be forgiven for anything, but you still can try to make things better. Helping others is one way to do it. I also thought that it showed how important it was not to forget, especially since our experiences make us who we are. On the contrary, you have to learn to live with things, and rise above them, let levity takes its rightful place.
The cast certainly helped  render this movie so wonderful. Billy Bob Thornton (Angelina Jolie ex-husband) is absolutely mind-blowing and delivers such a great performance as a man tortured by his past. Morgan Freeman, Holly Hunter and Kirsten Dunst are all astonishing. Holly Hunter and Kirsten Dunst are especially touching and just incredibly moving.
I hope what I said convinced you to give Levity a shot, for it truly is a fantastic movie.