Film Review: Rabbit Hole

Rabbit Hole directed by John Cameron Mitchell (Olympus Pictures, Blossom Films, and Odd Lot Entertainment, PG-13, 91 minutes)

Starring Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, and Dianne Wiest.

The Past Events of a Suffering Family

Although I rarely discuss it, I lost my older sister when I was nine years old. Due to complications at her birth and negligent medical practice, she ended up brain damaged and bed ridden for her short life.

Such a loss changes you at the core. Honestly, I think I was young enough to not fully understand the ramifications, but I see how the event has changed me. In many ways, I’m the oldest child and have assumed all the stereotypes involved with that title. Yet, biologically, I am a middle child. Even more, as I grow closer to new friends and acquaintances, the time inevitably comes when I must explain that I had an older sister.

I remember, for years, how difficult it was for my parents to function on her birthday. Since she died during the Christmas season, our holiday festivities carried an added weight of a missing family member. While losing a sibling is difficult, the loss of a child is beyond my comprehension.

Spiraling Down the Rabbit Hole

At its core, Rabbit Hole focuses on the acute suffering felt by parents who have recently lost a child. Becca (Nicole Kidman) and Howie Corbett (Aaron Eckhart) find themselves at a crossroads. With the death of their four-year-old son lingering, everyday tasks carry immense weight. Understanding the importance of distance in grief, their friends are unsure about when to reconnect. The neighbors extend grace through invitations to shared meals but the thought of rehashing feelings to another individual is like reliving a horror movie. Becca’s mother, Nat (Dianne Wiest), attempts a route of understanding since her son – and Becca’s brother – died of a drug overdose in his early thirties.

Overcoming Pain?

In separate ways, Becca and Howie try to medicate the pain. Howie believes that a support group provides the answer to their problems. Amongst a group of understanding peers, Howie has faith that healing will come quickly. In the privacy of his home, Howie replays on his smart phone, the only video left of his son, holding on for dear life that last glimpse of the joy of his offspring.

Becca, however, believes that her suffering is exclusive. Without a job, her days are spent in a home where every crevice reminds her of son lost too soon. The support group that offers grace to her husband suffocates her. Since most attendees of the group lean on a sovereign creator, Becca’s atheistic tendencies alienate her from the group. Instead, Becca seeks reconciliation with the teenager whose car accidentally struck the fatal blow on the four-year-old child.

A Portrait of Suffering

Rabbit Hole focuses on the many facets of suffering. It can pull relationship apart and it can assist in pulling a couple back together. What is clearly depicted, though, is the singular and solitary nature of suffering in the wake of losing a child. This movie is by no means entertaining. Its weight sticks with you long after the credits roll.

Bringing it Home

Nevertheless, its perspective on suffering points me back to the year when I lost my sister. In some way, Rabbit Hole gives me an ever-so-slight look into the world my parents encountered after my sister passed.

In many ways, Rabbit Hole gives me evidence about the resolve my parents showed in those times. While many split under the pressure, my parents held strong, are happily married to this day, and raised two excellent children (as far as I can tell).

Rabbit Hole is well acted and well produced. However, one must approach it understanding the weight of its subject matter. If you know you have a soft spot for the suffering of a family, this movie might be too much to bear. However, if you are a fan of solid scripts, acting, and production, Rabbit Hole is worth your time.

Film Review: The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life directed by Terrence Malick (Cottonwood Pictures, Plan B Entertainment, and River Road Entertainment, PG-13, 139 minutes)

Starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, and Jessica Chastain.

Why Me?

Do you remember the last time you cried uncontrollably? In those moments when tears threaten to disrupt breathing patterns and life seems to change course, did you ask, “Why me?” Though circumstances differ from person to person, we all encounter these life altering and painful-to-the-bone scenarios. With Terrence Malick’s Palme d’Or-winning opus, The Tree of Life, such existential crises are exquisitely depicted on film.

Job

As the movie commences, Job 38:4 flashes over a blank screen. In this biblical passage, God declares, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” For those unfamiliar with this ancient Hebraic story, Job – a Godly man – encounters immense suffering as he loses his family and economic clout. Despite hollow encouragement from friends, Job questions his suffering.

In a slightly dismissive manner, God responds to Job’s inquisition in the previously mentioned passage. And with this background acting as the sole hint behind its nonlinear narrative, The Tree of Life unfolds.

Universal and Particular

Ambitiously attempting to portray the entire history of the universe alongside an account of one family in small-town America, Malick simultaneously presents both a universal and a microscopic point of reference. With scenes depicting the creation of the universe, Malick makes visible the actions of God laying the foundation of the earth (extra kudos for a leviathan reference too). Likewise, The Tree of Life is imminently particular as Jack (played by Sean Penn in adulthood) reminisces about childhood and questions why the death of a family member was necessary.

As Jack remembers his childhood, his parents – Mrs. O’Brien (Jessica Chastain) and Mr. O’Brien (Brad Pitt) – illustrate the conflicting realities of grace and human nature as they attempt to teach, nurture, and develop their children. With a loving but heavy hand, Mr. O’Brien demands respect of his children. With quiet expectation, Mrs. O’Brien urges her children to blossom.

Encountering Evil

During perhaps the most moving section of the movie, Jack and his siblings evolve from the innocent purity of early childhood to the mischievous curiosity of childhood. Jack develops a goading sense of authority. In one scene, he challenges his brother to lick his finger and put it in a lamp socket. Without a resulting shock, the younger brother declares, “I trust you.” Moments later, Jack takes advantage of this trust by convincing his brother to put his finger over the barrel of a BB gun.  In the instant after Jack pulls the trigger, his brother’s look of shock, sadness, betrayal, and pain pours over the screen. Such actions leave the viewer enraged but also implicitly involved in this treachery. At the end of the scene, it feels like humanity is incapable of acting in a noble and just manner.

A Film of Contrast

This film, told in a stream of consciousness narrative, juxtaposes conflicting ideals. Through universality and particularity, nature versus grace, and innocent beauty next to tainted imperfection, The Tree of Life brilliantly depicts the ancient themes of Job where God seemingly permits purity, love, and uprightness to exist side by side with the reality of evil

The Tree of Life is not for everyone. It’s unclear narrative format and artistic focus requires attentive viewing and an acceptance of ambiguity. Let’s be honest; it’s an art film. However, The Tree of Life is exponentially more accessible than many films that frequent the film festival circuit. Additionally, my review has only scratched the surface of this movie. If you are interested in deeper takes, please direct your browsers to these fantastic reviews at Biblioklept and ThinkChristian. In short, I highly recommend The Tree of Life.