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The Worst Film Ever

Simply A Masterpiece

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

How sad is this?

Lorna is well played by the actress. Lorna is a complicated woman who is involved in a game between the Belgian underground and marrying a Russian mobster. The only problem is that she is married to a drug addict who needs to die. She is also in love with a man named Sokol. She dreams of running a snack bar or cafe rather than working at the laundromat. But things slowly go awry when she can't a divorce fast enough. Her current husband wants to quit and go clean. Lorna gets paid for the marriage and the arrangement with the Russian mobster. Along the way, we learn Lorna's ethnic background and her motives. The film's ending needs to be more clear. We will never know the future for Lorna at the end and that's troubling.

Involving, powerful story with great acting and one profoundly erotic sequence. I think the Dardennes are so in love with Bresson that they are trying to emulate his creative arc. "La Promesse" and "L'Enfent" were a reflection of early "naturalistic" Bresson- a la "Diary of a Country Priest". With this, I would say, the Dardennes move into mid-period Bresson territory: think "Mouchette" or "Balthasar". I liked the Dardennes' earlier films a lot. But they were perhaps a bit too restrained. Hardly this one. Two thirds into the film this previously humane, contemplative work goes all subjective and crazy. Powerful, but only semi-coherent.

To see the movement in this film , you become a part of it's pace. It's smoky cold feel of the spaces explored in this film allows you to immerse yourself into the the whole international thing. Being an American I tend to love the patience taken in these French films. They are woven and character developments take more value than just a get to the point story with a predictable ending. As usual in French movies, symbolism takes precedence over story. Still, reality is quite evident in the grim concepts displayed. Being of first generation immigrants,I can identify with the premise and the desperation involved. The lead character is brilliant in the way she gives less yet give so much in her subtle expressions. The direction is superb and the storyline leaves you wanting more. Many directors with this consistent success may often relax in their past laurels but the careful development of the pace of this murky tale is quite endearing.I would strongly recommend this movie for those who are plain cinema lovers.

Belgian film making brothers,Jean Pierre & Luc Dardenne have done it again. With a respective body of works that span some thirty,or so years,starting with some documentary shorts,mainly for Belgian television,to some toothsome fare,such as 'The Child (L'enfant)','Rosetta' & 'The Promise',they have crafted a well written portrait of an Albanian woman,named Lorna (played by Albanian actress, Arta Dobroshi),who is living in Brussels and trying to become a full time citizen (we are never told why she fled from Albania). She is married (in name only)to Claudy (played by Jeremie Renier)who is a junkie that is always looking for his next fix of Heroin. Her friend from back home,Sokol (played by fellow Albanian,Alban Ukaj)is always on the make for one money making scheme,after another (and most using Lorna as a means to an end). When Claudy dies from a Heroin overdose, it's up to Sokol to try & arrange another marriage for Lorna,this time to an Russian illegal immigrant. Does Loran go through with it,or does she finally get tired of Sokol's controlling ways? The film lives up to it's namesake in at least two ways (Lorna's life seems to be a closed book,plus the sparse use of music on the soundtrack is a metaphor,as well). The photography really works for this film (the film at times seems to be devoid of colour,to the extent that it seems to be shot in black & white,although Lorna herself seems to have a penchant for wearing the colour red a lot). This is a very well written & directed film from two brothers that know how to tell a story (as bleak as they tend to be,which usually always makes for great drama). Spoken in French,Albanian & Russian with English subtitles. Rated 'R' by the MPAA for some nudity,brief sexuality & language,and a bit of violence (but nothing too gory). Leave the little ones home (who would probably be bored by it,anyway,as the pacing is somewhat slow).