What is The Time Period of “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” Supposed to Be?
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) pulls uber-stylized references from Iranian and American culture spanning generations to reflect a hodgepodge of global pop culture. The director, clearly concerned more with marrying powerful bits of artistry than logistical consistency, utilized elements that suited her overall narrative and aesthetic. The main male character, Arash, looks like a modern-Iranian James Dean and drives a ‘57 Thunderbird. The lead vampire character rides a skateboard and listens to ‘80s synth pop, and has posters of music icons like Michael Jackson decorating her bedroom walls. As such, the time period of the film doesn’t really matter, nor can it truly be determined. What matters is how all these elements visually, audibly, aesthetically, and emotionally compliment one another to create a unique picture.
For example, Arash’s ‘57 Thunderbird is the only car seen in the entire film. It may as well be the only car in Bad City. Why? Because it’s cool, and it’s part of his character. Arash the individual is not the character - Arash the individual with the James Dean clothes, the 1950s car, the “I just auditioned for West Side Story” appearance, the charmingly passive romantic skills - that’s the character.