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| Movie Review: Lorna's Silence (Le silence de Lorna) Alternate Title: I Married the Mob
Story: Call me dense- but I
did not know what the heck was going on in this award winning film for
the first hour. The writing and directing Dardennes
brothers ( Jean-Pierre and Luc) are known for their
films about the underclass and struggles with moral issues. This slow paced film features Lorna who has somehow
gotten herself involved in a marriage for citizenship and money scheme
with Albanian, Belgium and Russian mobsters. For about an hour we watch
Lorna go through ordinary life chores. We see Lorna iron, walk to the
store, make a phone call, buy stuff, walk home, look in her mail box
and go to sleep. Excited yet? Well into the film we start to see that Lorna's
world is filled with people whose entire existences are for sale. Sex,
marriage, life and honor. Is there no one with a conscience in Lorna's
world? When I finally figured out what was happening
the story took on some semblance of action. Sadly, by that time I lost
interest in almost everyone. You want to root for Lorna but her choices
in the film make it very difficult. This is not a film for most people. You should
probably be serious devotees of the Dardennes brothers. Check out the
trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZN_rVSq1qg Acting: Arta Dobroshi as Lorna reminded me of an
older Ellen Page (Juno). She has recieved kudos for this role, but I
was not moved. Jérémie Renier Claudy,
had the only part that required emotion and he was over the top.
Trivia: In 1999 the brothers Dardenne had a hit with
Rosetta, that won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Festival. The movie tells
the story of a blue collar worker with an alcoholic mother who tries
to have a better life in a small belgium city. Read my review of that
1999 film here and check out how few categories there were in my reviews
10 tears ago: http://www.judithwolfe.com/lobosmoviereviews/reviews/rosetta.html
Predilection: None
Critters: None
Sex Spectrum: Female nudity
Soundtrack: The Dardennes brothers usually do not
use soundtracks.
Visual Art: The details of life in this part of town
was depressing.
Theater Audience: Six other comatose people
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: I looked at my watch often.
Predictability Level: Did not care
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: This film won Best Screenplay at the
2008 Cannes Film Festival.
Big Screen or Rental: Neither
Length: Under two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 4
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