Showing Up (2023) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Lizzy struggles to complete her exhibition while caring for an injured pigeon and responding to Sean's worsening mental crisis.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Clay, Work, and Interruptions

Lizzy prepares her sculpture exhibition while working as an arts administrator assistant. A damaged pigeon and unresolved household problems begin disrupting her limited creative time.

Key Events

• Lizzy Balances Art and Work — Lizzy works as an arts administrator assistant while preparing her own clay sculpture exhibition. Characters: Lizzy Location: Oregon College of Art and Craft
• Sculptures Depict Movement — Lizzy develops sculptures portraying women in joyful or anguished movement. Characters: Lizzy Location: Lizzy's studio
• Water Heater Remains Unfixed — Lizzy repeatedly reminds her landlord to repair the water heater, but the repair is delayed. Characters: Lizzy Location: Lizzy's rented home
• Lizzy Takes Tuesday Off — Lizzy takes Tuesday away from work so she can devote more time to finishing her sculptures. Characters: Lizzy Location: Oregon College of Art and Craft
• Cat Injures a Pigeon — During the night, Lizzy's cat maims a pigeon that has flown into the house. Characters: Lizzy Location: Lizzy's home

The Bird Becomes a Burden

Lizzy is forced to care for the injured pigeon and gradually develops an attachment to it. Veterinary expenses and interrupted glazing increase the pressure surrounding her exhibition.

Key Events

• Pigeon Is Taken Outside — Lizzy throws the injured pigeon outside, trying to remove the immediate problem. Characters: Lizzy Location: Outside Lizzy's home
• Lizzy Inherits Bird Care — After the pigeon is rescued, responsibility for caring for it is passed to Lizzy. Characters: Lizzy Location: Lizzy's home
• Lizzy Bonds with Pigeon — Lizzy initially resents the bird but gradually begins to bond with it. Characters: Lizzy Location: Lizzy's home
• Veterinary Care Costs $150 — Lizzy takes the pigeon to a veterinarian, spending $150 on its treatment. Characters: Lizzy Location: Veterinary clinic
• Bird Care Disrupts Glazing — Lizzy explains that caring for the pigeon distracted her and prevented her from glazing her work. Characters: Lizzy Location: Lizzy's studio
• Lizzy Visits Her Father — Lizzy visits her father and distrusts the people who have invited themselves to stay with him. Characters: Lizzy Location: Her father's home

Sean's Troubled Isolation

Lizzy discovers that Sean has withdrawn from the family and holds disturbing beliefs about his neighbors and television antenna. His reports of hearing voices convince Lizzy that he needs serious help.

Key Events

• Lizzy Visits Her Father — Lizzy visits her father and distrusts the people who have invited themselves to stay with him. Characters: Lizzy Location: Her father's home
• Sean Has Disappeared Socially — Lizzy learns that Sean has had no contact with the family for six months. Characters: Lizzy, Sean Location: Her father's home
• Lizzy Finds Sean Reclusive — Lizzy visits Sean and finds him isolated and convinced that his neighbors caused his television antenna to fail. Characters: Lizzy, Sean Location: Sean's home
• Sean Reports Hearing Voices — Sean says he hears voices, while Lizzy and others do not hear what he claims to hear. Characters: Lizzy, Sean Location: Sean's home
• Lizzy Seeks Family Help — Lizzy contacts their mother because she believes Sean needs more than emotional support. Characters: Lizzy, Sean Location: Sean's home

The Damaged Sculpture and Crisis

Lizzy's final sculpture is damaged in the kiln while Sean's behavior becomes more alarming. After finding him digging a massive pit, Lizzy helps bring family attention to his mental episode.

Key Events

• Kiln Damages Final Sculpture — The weekend before her exhibition, Lizzy's final piece burns on one side in the kiln. Characters: Lizzy Location: Lizzy's studio
• Sean Digs a Massive Pit — Lizzy finds Sean digging a massive pit while insisting that he is hearing voices. Characters: Lizzy, Sean Location: Sean's backyard
• Sean Requires Sedation — Sean suffers a mental episode, and Lizzy's mother puts him to sleep. Characters: Lizzy, Sean Location: Sean's home
• Sean Misses the Initial Show — Lizzy arrives at the show without Sean and becomes nervous after hearing that he has wandered off alone. Characters: Lizzy, Sean Location: Lizzy's exhibition

A Flight Toward Acceptance

Sean eventually reaches Lizzy's exhibition by bus. The pigeon is released, and Lizzy accepts that it is ready to leave despite her wish to keep searching for it.

Key Events

• Sean Misses the Initial Show — Lizzy arrives at the show without Sean and becomes nervous after hearing that he has wandered off alone. Characters: Lizzy, Sean Location: Lizzy's exhibition
• Sean Arrives by Bus — Sean unexpectedly reaches the exhibition by bus, joining Lizzy's family at the show. Characters: Lizzy, Sean Location: Lizzy's exhibition
• Pigeon Is Released — The pigeon's bandages are removed, and Sean releases it as everyone watches it fly away. Characters: Lizzy, Sean Location: Outside Lizzy's exhibition
• Lizzy Accepts the Bird's Departure — Lizzy searches for the pigeon but eventually accepts that it was ready to fly. Characters: Lizzy, Sean Location: Outside Lizzy's exhibition

Story Breakdown

• Artistic Preparation — Lizzy tries to finish a sculpture exhibition while maintaining her administrative work.
  • Clay Figures — Lizzy creates sculptures of women in joyful or anguished movement.
  • Time Pressure — Lizzy takes a day off work to gain more time for her art.
• Household Friction — Problems at Lizzy's rented home make her already difficult schedule more stressful.
  • Broken Water Heater — Lizzy repeatedly asks for a water-heater repair that remains delayed.
  • Neighbor Disputes — Lizzy's disagreements with her landlord add irritation to her daily life.
• Pigeon Responsibility — An injured pigeon unexpectedly becomes part of Lizzy's emotional and practical burden.
  • Nighttime Injury — Lizzy's cat maims a pigeon that enters the house.
  • Veterinary Expense — Lizzy cares for the pigeon and pays $150 for veterinary treatment.
• Family Disconnection — Lizzy learns that Sean has withdrawn from the family and investigates his condition.
  • Six Months Missing — Lizzy discovers that Sean has had no family contact for six months.
  • Reclusive Brother — Lizzy visits Sean and finds him isolated in his home.
• Sean's Mental Crisis — Sean's beliefs and behavior become increasingly alarming before the exhibition.
  • Antenna Delusion — Sean believes his neighbors are responsible for his television antenna failing.
  • Voices and Pit — Sean reports hearing voices and digs a massive pit in his backyard.
• Exhibition Crisis — Lizzy faces artistic damage and fears that Sean will not make it to the show.
  • Kiln Damage — Lizzy's final sculpture burns on one side shortly before the exhibition.
  • Missing Arrival — Sean is absent when Lizzy initially reaches the exhibition, increasing her anxiety.
• Release and Acceptance — The exhibition becomes a meeting point where Sean arrives and the pigeon completes its recovery.
  • Bus Arrival — Sean eventually reaches the show by bus.
  • Pigeon Takes Flight — Sean releases the pigeon, and Lizzy accepts that it is ready to fly away.

Directed by

Kelly Reichardt

Key Cast

• Michelle Williams — Lizzy
• Hong Chau — Jo
• Maryann Plunkett — Jean
• John Magaro — Sean
• André 3000 — Eric