Philip Holden - Waster

About This Movie

So, 'Waster' is a curious little piece from 1916 that really dives into the notion of ambition—or the lack thereof, really. Philip Holden, this young guy who feels like he’s just drifting through life, embodies that sense of ennui that was quite present in many dramas of the time. The pacing is a bit uneven, but it works to build up to that pivotal bridge party where everything shifts for him. You can really feel the weight of social expectations hanging over Philip, and it’s interesting to see how Louise tries to pull him out of his literary bubble. There's something raw about the performances, capturing that transitional era in cinema; it’s not flashy, but it has a certain charm that draws you in.

This film is a bit of an obscurity, with very few known prints in circulation, which makes it quite the treasure for collectors who appreciate early cinema. It has seen limited releases on various formats, but finding a well-preserved version is rare. The themes it explores resonate with the struggles of identity and societal expectations, making it a fascinating study of its time for those interested in the evolution of narrative film.