Non-Place Review: Mallrats
The reason I chose Mallrats as my non-place film, is that the movie uses a typical American shopping Mall as more a character rather than just a place. From the opening shots, the Mall is given it's very own personality, with the humorous store names, such as Rug Munchers (Capret shop) and Buy Me Toys (Toy Shop).
During the film, the location and name of the Mall is never mentioned, allowing the mall to be a non-place. Any Mall, in any town, during the mid 90's. Whilst most Malls are transient places, where people pass through, this Mall like many others (at this time) has it's own regulars.
The films protagonist, Brodie, whom the main story revolves around, knows everything there is to know about the Mall. Who's who, what's going on, etc. For Brodie, the Mall is his house, his home away from home. During the film, Brodie refers to the shopping centre as “The Mall”, a place to be respected, rather than just visited. Along with his reverence, Brodie has his very own set of rules that he abides by, and believes other non-regular shoppers should obey.
During one scene, Brodie and his ex-girlfriend discuss visitation rights at the Mall, as if this place is something to be owned, rather than visited. When Brodie finds out that a Dating Show is taking place in his Mall, he is personally offended by the news, and his first reaction is to sabotage the event, in an act of rebellion.
Almost all of the shots and scenes take place within the mall. The shots are filled with hundreds of passers by, and shoppers who give the Mall the feeling of a non-place, where people visit, rather than stay.
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