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Reviews
Mariages (2001)
Do not miss an opportunity to see this wonderful film!
"Mariages", set in 19th-century rural Quebec, is a story of the sensual awakening of a young woman who was raised by her stern older sister in an austere environment. Yvonne has been groomed for life in a convent. Despite the spiritual and emotional boundaries imposed by these expectations, Yvonne finds herself compulsively drawn to the natural world around her, in a process of self-discovery that is imbued with mystical and possibly inevitable forces from the past. The cast, led by Marie-Ève Bertrand as Yvonne, is uniformly outstanding. Jean-Claude Labrecque's cinematography is reminiscent of Sven Nykvist's work with Ingmar Bergman. Interiors are dark and repressive, often lit only by candlelight. In this environment, people are trussed up in restrictive clothing, their essential selves hidden from view. In contrast, the exterior world that Yvonne explores is vibrant and bursting with life: we see glorious images of the classic elements of water, wind, and earth. In water, Yvonne seems to be reborn, in a kind of reverse Garden of Eden allegory. This is an astonishingly beautiful and nuanced film, full of elegant symbolism. Yvonne's journey is utterly captivating, with moments of breathtaking honesty and insight. Highly recommended. Available on DVD.
Mother and Child (2009)
Superb new offering from Rodrigo Garcia
I had the pleasure of attending the world premiere of "Mother and Child" at the Toronto International Film Festival last night. This film is outstanding in every way, and proves once again (after "Nine Lives" and "Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her") that Rodrigo Garcia is a master of the complex story about intersecting lives and relationships. This story is about three women: Karen (Annette Bening), Elizabeth (Naomi Watts), the daughter whom she gave up for adoption, and Lucy (Kerry Washington), a woman wanting to adopt a child of her own. The film weaves a tapestry of truths about the sometimes heartbreaking nature of mother-child relationships, and about the almost unshakable power of that bond. It has many poignant moments and is garnished with subtle humour. There is not a single false moment in the film. The cast is outstanding, without exception, but Bening, Watts, and Washington each deliver Oscar-worthy performances, and Garcia deserves the highest recognition as both screenwriter and director. Bravo!