One of the most impressive and impactful movies I have watched ever. And that done in the subtlest way possible!
To handle a subject such as captivity, rape, confinement, sexual abuse without ever mentioning these words quite explicitly.
And to keep a child’s innocence intact (as it would be if Jack’s story was real) as the child only sees as much.
But to then portray the complex and “almost incomprehensible beyond a point unless you’ve lived it” mix of emotions.
Poignant. If you ever want to experience that word and it’s meaning then watching Room would be one way. A most soul crushing way too.
Shudder to think of how many such tales are true life to countless humans. Why we do this to each other.
The same psyche that can be as innocent and beautiful as Jack’s as a barely 5 year old boy can turn into the sick individual who leads to events of Jack’s being born and his living as he does is one of the many mysterious of Human brain and psychology for sure!
A movie to watch, behold, cry with and about, to lament those countless human lives that have lived such experiences and to lament the innocent children that are born and raised in such circumstances around the world and to sing praise for those countless resourceful parents who make the world for those children bearable and lovable if nothing else. That’s what ROOM is for. Go watch it.
And yes for book lovers - this movie is an adaptation of the book by the same name. I am eagerly waiting although with a sense of guilt and anxiety for I know how much the movie moved me and expect the book to do more to my emotions.
Here are the links to lookup the movie (rotten tomatoes) and the book (good reads)
I could not shake it off and am still continuously playing it in bits and pieces in my head. As a parent I can relate to it. As a woman I can relate to it.
I am looking at my child with renewed cherishing and realise how absolutely precious he is to me, to us, and every single child on this planet.
Can we make sure, as a society, we do all that we can to prevent little Jacks turning into Old Nicks?
And I say that fully aware of this being gender specific or relation specific, irrespective of geography or race or religion or philosophies. This is a human responsibility to the human civilisation!