‘RETROGRADE:’ Fighting a traffic ticket in Adrian Murray’s new movie

Everyone has been wronged in some small, inconsequential way and fantasized about justice. Most of the time, we conclude that the conflict, personal cost, time, and energy just aren’t worth it. Or, maybe going scorched earth is justified just this one time.

RETROGRADE is a slice of life film about a small but very irritating injustice — getting an undeserved ticket. Written and directed by Toronto-based Adrian Murray and starring actor Molly Reisman, this movie follows the character Molly as she contests a ticket she received while helping a new roommate move.

Of course, it’s not just about the $300 parking ticket. It’s also about Molly‘s pursuit of truth and justice, which her roommate’s disbelief only emboldens. Gabrielle, played by Sofia Banzhaf, wasn’t really paying attention. Murray wanted to approach the theme of how perspective can influence what we believe to be true and who controls the truth through the story of “a very petty traffic ticket.”

“[The film is] infusing these small stakes interactions with bigger ideas and bigger implications,” said Murray.

Molly goes to great lengths to challenge the ticket, often missing work and causing conflict with her friends. The actual process of challenging the ticket is arduous, probably as it was designed to be to discourage those less determined then Molly. There are emails, phone calls, chats with lawyers, scheduling conflicts, and all the bureaucracy that can be expected.

At only 74 minutes, the film’s focus and brevity are its strengths. Each scene serves a clear purpose, usually giving us an understanding of Molly as a character and furthering the theme and plot. Shots are often static and almost always feature Molly. That way, the audience can only identify with her perspective.

“We didn’t want to introduce a different perspective considering so much about this movie is about what you see and what you don’t see.”

This theme is present in the characters’ disagreements about astrology. Gabrielle uses it to connect with people and self-reflect. On the other hand, Molly is deeply opposed to what she sees as artificial interpretations of herself and her friends. 

“She’s got this character coming in and describing herself and her friends in ways that she doesn’t agree with. But everyone else seems to take [it] in stride, which parallels the ticket for her,” said Murray.

While at a party, Gabrielle begins talking about astrology, and Molly starts an argument with her. Astrology is a contentious topic that everyone has probably been, wittingly or not, involved in a discussion of.

 “I’ve been at that party that Molly is at, so I can relate. Being pretty sceptical about the astrology stuff and then finding it easier to go along with it.”

Reisman accurately plays a person we’ve all known or been ourselves. In moments of conflict, her performance combined with the lingering shots remind the audience of the reason why we sometimes let things go. 

“You’ll recognize yourself or someone you know in her, I think, and either one’s pretty fun.”

Molly, the character, can be just as sympathetic as she can be irritating. I moved between agreeing with her wholeheartedly in a “good for her” kind of way, to sinking down in my seat due to secondhand embarrassment. Reisman gave a great performance to be able to elicit such strong emotions from me, especially considering the topic is a traffic ticket.

People experience or see a lot of little injustices in their life and it can wear a person down. One of the reasons Molly is so indignant is that she believes the traffic ticket is a result of gender-based discrimination — it’s why I was so quick to side with her.

For my own sanity and time, I would have let it go. But that attitude isn’t productive — it doesn’t change things. Her belief in her own innocence and determination to challenge a small ticket tells me that this character doesn’t put up with mistreatment. Today it’s just a parking ticket, but tomorrow it could be something bigger.

“It’s frustrating when you’ve seen [something], and no one else believes you,” Murray said.

As of June 23, RETROGRADE is available on demand and for digital download. You can purchase or rent the movie from several services, including Google Play, Apple, and Amazon On-Demand.