A mother struggles to cope with her son. The result? Slice-of-life art-house dross, filmed in a (almost) square ratio to accommodate an over-emphasis on still close-ups of faces. Where’s the exit door? Critics who rated this film highly are like the courtiers who praised the naked emperor’s new clothes. Any film that opens with a long still shot of washing on a line deserves every brickbat thrown at it. But then this isn’t a film, it’s more a soul-destroying student project. As a warning to anyone who picks up a camera, it should be allowed to decompose quietly in a pretentious and obscure art gallery. Stay well clear.
This film is not an easy one to review. My title here is borrowed from the NY Times review.
This is the directors 5th film. Not bad for a 25 year old! Some say his best so far.
It is well written and well acted. About real life, which can be tough at times. So some may find it exhausting to watch.
If you enjoy World Cinema films about people and the challenges they are dealt, you will be glad you watched this one.
Brilliant, energised look at a mother son relationship, with next door neighbour joining the party, as the son careers from love to hate to violence to sensitivity and the women try to carve out who they are in amongst it all.