Film Review: Room. Director: Lenny Abrahamson.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez said, "motherhood is not just the act of giving birth to the child. It is the process of bringing him up that creates the unbreakable bond between the mother and the child". There are various stories, aphorisms and adages that sing the praises of motherhood, mostly of the bravery it involves to be a mother, and all are true. Motherhood and a dog's love are some of the purest things to exist.
'Room' directed by Lenny Abrahamson, streaming on 'Netflix' is a film based on Emma Donoghue's novel of the same title. Brie Larsen (Ma) was a seventeen year old girl, who tried helping out a total stranger on the road only to discover later that he was a psycho rapist who confined her in a room for a period of eight long years, and gave her a child in the course of confinement. The film is about a stark difference in the perception of the world from the mother's side compared with that of her son Jack's, who things that dogs are unreal and TV is magic.
While 'Room' is essentially about how a mother would bend backwards to do anything to save her child from the throes of cataclysm, it is also an intense exploration of the psychological trauma of a woman in confinement for over eight years with her child who has grown to depend on her. It is a film about a trapped woman with a child to raise and nothing else to do, and about a child who has no idea that people exist outside their small room, too. The aura of the film is complex, yet highly emotional. The film taps into the purity of a relationship in addition to a need for pragmatism and rationality.
'Room' depicts literal realities with a metaphorical touch. Ma's need to Jack out of this room, coupled with Jack's little exposure and a naturally consequent aversion to change speaks volumes about how damage can work on a person. To empathize with a person who has experienced trauma and to actually live with trauma are two very different things. 'Room' embodies and characterizes the psyche of two people (Ma and Jack) who are a part of each other, yet completely different from each other regarding their feelings about the room they live in. While Ma hates it, Jack loves every part of the room, and why wouldn't he, he was born there!
While watching the film, the audience is sure to empathize with the Ma. Her struggle to emancipate her child, her efforts to keep him fit, her overflowing emotion and vulnerability to the extent of breastfeeding him even at the age of eight, yet devising escape plans for him so that he could have a life that could be called one, and that could be away from his present abysmal existence is overwhelming, touching and very real. The audience will feel her pain as her captor and rapist only brings over the necessaries in exchange for sex. The film would surely remind the audience of the Betty Mehmoodi classic book 'Not Without My Daughter' (which was later made into a film), in which the protagonist makes an escape plan for herself and her daughter after being trapped in Tehran by her husband.
'Room' is a film for those who are interested in the assessment of the psychological impact of trauma and confinement. The impact at the time of going through it, and the impact post emancipation. The film is very very intense and dun in its aura and leaves remiss room for light moments. The first half is painful and gut-wrenching to say the least. The progression in the second half is a bit soulful, hopeful and would give the audience moments of relief. Mental health and its importance, especially after going through something that is not entirely your fault is depicted very well in the film.
The film portrays all kinds of emotions and accomplishes this major feat in only two characters. It is story oriented and character driven in nature. It is not much about the plot twist as much as the shift in the rationale and psyche of Ma and Jack. 'Room' is all about the pure love between a mother and her son, and more importantly about the fact that no matter where and no matter what situation, the love of a mother for her child is undying, untainted and pure. For that, the film is sure to carve a special place in the hearts of the audience. The bond between Jack and Ma is truly beautiful. As Ma and Jack acknowledge and embrace their trauma, the audience is sure to question their own mental health related debacles. 'Room' grows on the audience and rubs off its realness on them.
The aesthetics of the film are on point. The room of confinement is far from beautiful and is accurately portrayed in that sense. The broken window on top of the room, Jack's toys and the colour scheme of the dirty, sombre, decadent and dinghy room is accurately and relatably portrayed. A unique aspect of the film is its tear jerking script. The audience, no matter the age is sure to cry as they go on watching the film. The sacrifice that motherhood involves is the center of the script, and motherhood combined with trauma is the premise. Tears are nothing but a natural outcome.
A very special mention needs to be made of Jacob Tremblay, who played the sweet and innocent eight year old Jack. He also played August Pullman in 'Wonder' with equal ability. Jacob's acting skills are top notch and he is a truly great child artist. Brie Larsen as Ma is phenomenal and shows that she is capable of pulling off diverse roles, right from the glamorous Captain Marvel to the destitute and utterly broken Ma. The direction of the film is engaging and though 'Room' isn't a thriller, leaves the audiences on the edge of their seats. Absence of any lewd and vulgar visuals makes the film a complete family watch.
Overall, 'Room' is all things brilliant, devastating and liberating. It is a must watch.
MY TAKE: 10/10.
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Yes, it is the journey of a mother son duo, in all emotions , all the parameters of the film are very well covered
ReplyDeleteNicely Written !!
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