Film Review
With
Le Silence de Lorna, the
Dardenne brothers continue their relentless exploration of life in the
grimier crevices of our society and again remind us of the depths to
which mankind can sink if he really sets his mind to it. The
film has much in common with Robert
Bresson's
Mouchette (1967). Both
revolve around a vulnerable young woman who, whilst flawed, has that
spark of humanity which is completely absent from the world in which
she lives. Like Mouchette, Lorna is propelled by events into a
violent rebellion which ultimately sets her on the road to
redemption. The only significant difference between these two
immensely powerful works of cinema is that the Dardennes' film is
situated in a world that today's audience can readily relate to, hence
its impact is so much greater. Mouchette seems like an
abstraction, but Lorna is someone we feel we know.
Over the past decade, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne have won
international acclaim for their distinctive brand of social realist
drama, films which are concerned with the problems of disadvantaged
people living on the edges of society, victims both of the state and of
the lowlife that prey upon them.
Le Silence de Lorna is unquestionably
their most compelling film to date, a work of exceptional poignancy and
humanity but one that is crafted with sublime understatement.
This is not a film that sets out to play on our emotions or one that
exaggerates reality for dramatic effect. This is a film that
shows us the world as it is, or at least one part of it that is
irredeemably ugly and soulless.
Here the Dardennes take us on a journey into the world of people
trafficking, a world in which ruthless gangster types manipulate,
exploit and destroy the vulnerable for a quick buck. This is the
capitalist system at its most extreme, yet it does invite us to reflect
on capitalism in its most general sense. In the pursuit of
individual wealth and happiness, do we not risk sacrificing a part of
our humanity, and can we be certain that our comfort and well-being are
not at the expense of someone less fortunate further down the food
chain?
Whilst subject matter and technique certainly play their part, much of the power of the
Dardennes' films derives from the naturalistic performances from some
very fine actors.
Le Silence
de Lorna is no exception, and if this film stirs your soul it is
probably as a result of Arta Dobroshi's remarkable portrayal of the
lead character. When we first see Lorna, she appears to be every
bit as unsympathetic and lacking in conscience as the thugs who employ
her. But just as we are about to give up on her, something
happens. Slowly, she begins to change. Her compassion is
aroused by the inhumanity of those who seek to exploit her and
immediately we start to see her true nature. By the end of the
film, Dobroshi has constructed an authentic character of great depth and
complexity. Lorna is no longer the pitiful victim who can be
bullied into murdering someone, but a tough cookie who can fight back
and take a stand against the inhumanity that surrounds her. This
film goes way beyond mere social drama. It is a humanist parable
for our time, one that we can all learn from.
© James Travers 2010
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Next Jean-Pierre Dardenne film:
Le Gamin au vélo (2011)
Film Synopsis
Lorna is a young Albanian woman whose dream is to settle in Belgium
with her boyfriend Sokol and open a snack bar. Through a
gangster Fabio, she gains Belgian citizenship by marrying a Belgian
drug addict, Claudy. In return, Lorna agrees to help Fabio murder
Claudy by faking a drugs overdose so that she can then marry a Russian
hoodlum. When Claudy makes an attempt to overcome his drugs
addiction, Lorna has a change of heart and realises she cannot see him
killed. She applies for a fast track divorce which, against the
odds, she is granted. Unfortunately, Fabio has none of Lorna's
qualms and insists that they stick to their original plan. Not
long after Claudy's funeral, Lorna becomes convinced that she is
pregnant with his child. Fabio insists that she must have an
abortion before she marries the Russian, but this she is resolutely
determined not to do...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.