Lorna's Silence Review
Posted by Chad Webb on 09.03.2009
If you have doubts about your marriage, watch this film.
Arta Dobroshi: Lorna
Jeremie Renier: Claudy Moreau
Fabrizioi Rongione: Fabio
Alban Ukaj: Sokol
Morgan Marinne: Spirou
Anton Yakovlev: Andrei
Written/Directed By: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
Release Date: July 31, 2009
Running Time: 105 minutes
Rated R for brief sexuality/nudity, and language.
Lorna (Arta Dobroshi) hates being around her husband Claudy (Jeremie Renier). He is a lowly drug addict that seems to rely on her for just about everything. She goes to work, and he will commonly show up there to speak with her, or make incessant phone calls. He says he is trying to quit drugs, but his dealer phones regularly. Claudy also requests that Lorna hold his money and buy him medication for cramps. So why does Lorna detest her husband? Because she has been placed in a sham marriage. She does not love Claudy, but she must put up with him, and even keep him calm. But just how pathetic is he?
Lorna's Silence, the new film from Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne examines that question, along with the weight of one's conscience. It is a very good effort from two brothers who have made greater. The reason Lorna has allowed herself to be positioned in this artificial marriage is so that she can eventually open a snack bar with her boyfriend Sokol (Alban Ukaj). Before that dream occurs however, she must obtain Belgian citizenship from her marriage. The plan is for her to then enter another fake marriage with a Russian mobster, who also wants Belgian citizenship. In order for this process to run quicker, Claudy must be disposed of. Every stage of the scheme rests on Lorna to follow protocol and remain silent.
I knew as soon as I left the theater from Lorna's Silence that is was a well made drama, but that it was missing something. I could not pinpoint what that could be until I really thought hard about the entire storyline. The reason came to me like a bolt of lightning, and then my whole review made sense. There is a time gap that has been cut out in the middle of the film. A significant event transpires in that time. Due to the fact that the viewer does not see this, Lorna's Silence suffers, and is prevented from achieving the heights that it could have. The Dardenne brothers had their reasons for this. I thought of some myself, but not one was sufficient enough. Basically, they deleted what would have been the memorable moment.
By all accounts, the Dardenne's have not done this previously. I have only seen one other of their films. It is called The Child, released as L'Enfant even in the US, and it is a masterpiece. The Child is certainly not lacking in stand out sequences, and because of that, it is simply more compelling than Lorna's Silence. They have received plenty of critical acclaim for past films such as The Son, The Promise, and Rosetta as well. That is not to say their newest offering is poor. In fact, I was mesmerized by the raw power Lorna's Silence possesses.
The performances are what drive the film, and therefore accentuate the abilities of the directors. Arta Dobroshi is Lorna, and her quiet intensity is a highlight of the picture. She is a blunt and confident woman, ripped of her dignity, and is locked in a situation she attempts to control, but cannot. Her dismal expression lures the audience along because Lorna provides glimpses of a happier person. Her coldness toward Claudy is natural, and that could also describe Dobroshi's work in general. This is her third role, and many more will come I'm sure.
Though he is merely a supporting character, Claudy lingers in our heads because of the bravura turn from Jeremie Renier. Portraying a recovering drug addict is not groundbreaking territory any more, but the way Renier approaches the part is unforgettable. The strength lies in the intricacies and nuances that are never exaggerated. Claudy has made some huge mistakes, but he is human, and Renier exhibits that beautifully. This is Renier's third feature with the Dardenne's. He is an actor who needs ten times the attention he gets now.
There are two villains in Lorna's Silence that appear to exemplify the definition of villain more so than some of the other characters. At the same time, referring to them as such could strike people as an inflated description because Fabio and his goon Spirou are inherently wicked. That is the path they have chosen for their lives. Fabrizioi Rongione and Morgan Marinne are Fabio and Spirou, and both execute a gradual progression of displaying their nasty attributes splendidly. Alban Ukaj is Sokol, the suspicious enigma that is Lorna's boyfriend. He is normally out of town, and one wonders if his interest in the snack bar and/or spending time with Lorna is much of a concern at all.
The organic style that saturates Lorna's Silence can be found in many modern films. Titles like Chop Shop and I've Loved You So Long come to mind. The visceral manner of the camera work from cinematographer Alain Marcoen is infectious and hypnotizing because it looks and sounds so remarkably authentic. The Dardenne duo strive to eliminate the clichés of a climax, but in doing so, they avoid the climax altogether. Nevertheless, Lorna's Silence is a fine piece of existential cinema that addresses love, morality, and capitalism with a hauntingly poignant ending.
The 411: Lorna's Silence is not one of those foreign films that will gain widespread attention, but it should. The terrific work of the Dardenne brothers should be experienced by more audiences. Lorna's Silence is not their best effort to date, and might not even be their most accessible, but it is worthwhile viewing that will enlighten one's knowledge of the world and of people in general. The performances are outstanding, and the direction is superb besides one snag. It has been making its rounds in theaters for about a month now, so if you see it in your area, take a chance. Otherwise, wait for DVD.
