_large.jpg)
This Todd Solondz fellow is a hard man to predict.
To follow up his last narrative film, the ambitious and (as always) darkly funny DARK HORSE), Solondz is going all the way back to the film that kickstarted his career: WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE.
The writer/director is developing WEINER-DOG, a title derived from poor Dawn Weiner's middle-school nickname in DOLLHOUSE. However, it's more literal than that: the plot is literally about a dachshund and the lives of several people it encounters. The dachshund "seems to be spreading comfort and joy," which, knowing Solondz, will probably turn around and go bad sooner than later.
Most interestingly is that Greta Gerwig is reportedly in talks to play a grown-up Dawn, who would have her own plotline in the film. The reason that's weird is not that Solondz is recasting Heather Matarazzo, whose wonderful iconic work for Solondz defines that film; he recast every single character for his sequel to HAPPINESS, LIFE DURING WARTIME.
No, the reason it's weird is because DAWN IS DEAD! The opening scene of Solondz' PALINDROMES shows Weiner's funeral after her death by suicide. Apparently, she went to college, but killed herself after getting knocked up (presumably by a not-so-nice gent). There is even a eulogy read by her brother, who's played by the same actor as in DOLLHOUSE. That film also focused on Dawn's cousin, making that a sort-of follow-up to the earlier Solondz film as well, making Dawn's death in the Solondz-verse even more concrete.
Still, this is Solondz we're talking about here, so the usual rules certainly do not apply (if you can tell me what's going on and who's dead or gravely ill by the end of DARK HORSE, I'll be mighty impressed). It would be great to see the result of Gerwig and Solondz' collaboration, no matter what the role, but if "Weiner-dog" really did grow up to look like Gerwig, then I can't imagine the character being played the same way. Certainly not as universally shunned and ignored. Right?
Julie Delpy is also up to play an unspecified role, so the film's already got two super-talented indie actresses in talks to join. Can't wait to hear more about this psuedo-sequel to one of the most brutal, viciously hilarious depictions of pre-teen life I've ever seen.
