Welcome to L.A.

Welcome to L.A. is a 1976 film directed by Alan Rudolph and starring Keith Carradine, Sally Kellerman, and Geraldine Chaplin. The film takes place in Los Angeles and follows the lives of several characters who are struggling with loneliness, love, and the pursuit of fame and success.

The film centers around Carradine's character, Carroll Barber, a songwriter who has come to L.A. to make it big. He's talented and charming, but he's also deeply flawed, with a tendency toward self-destruction. Barber meets a variety of women who are all drawn to him in different ways, including Kellerman's character, Ann Goode, a woman who's struggling with her own demons and a longing for connection. Chaplin's character, Eve, is another woman who becomes involved with Barber, but she's married and struggling with her own unhappy marriage.

The film explores the various relationships that Barber has with these women, as well as his relationship with his father, who is dying of cancer. Barber is a man who is deeply troubled and conflicted, and the women in his life are all struggling with their own issues, which only exacerbate his problems.

One of the most compelling aspects of the film is its portrayal of Los Angeles as a city of loneliness and disconnection. The characters are all looking for something that they can't seem to find, whether it's love, success, or happiness. There's a sense of desperation and hopelessness that permeates the film, and it's a powerful commentary on the isolation and loneliness that can exist in even the most populous and bustling of cities.

The film is also notable for its mesmerizing cinematography, which captures the beauty and the ugliness of Los Angeles in equal measure. There are stunning shots of the city at night, with its bright lights and sprawling expanse, as well as gritty images of rundown neighborhoods and dirty streets. The camera work is often dreamlike and surreal, mirroring the disjointed and often confusing nature of the characters' lives.

Despite its bleakness and sense of hopelessness, there are moments of beauty and tenderness in Welcome to L.A. The relationships between the characters are complex and nuanced, and there are moments of genuine connection that highlight the power of human connection even in the midst of despair.

Overall, Welcome to L.A. is a haunting and powerful film that explores the darker aspects of the human experience. Its stunning visuals and complex characters make it a must-see for fans of 1970s cinema, and its commentary on the nature of loneliness and connection is still relevant today.