Film: Rabbit Hole
Cast includes: Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge!), Aaron Eckhart (Thank You for Smoking), Dianne Wiest (Edward Scissorhands)
Director: Jon Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch)
Genre: Drama (2010) Based on a play by David Lindsay-Abaire
In brief: “You can’t make things nice. Things aren’t nice… anymore,” says Becca to her husband Howie. At first we don’t know what’s wrong. The story develops like a puzzle, in which pieces are revealed gradually. When Becca learns that her sister is pregnant, we see that the news has a mixed effect. At the bereavement group, we learn that it’s been 8 months since Becca and Howie’s 4-year-old son Danny ran into the street and was killed. The bereavement group doesn’t seem to be helping Becca, however. When another parent says their child died because, “God needed another angel,” it’s more than Becca can stand. “Why didn’t He just make another angel? He’s God, after all.”
“You know I can’t stand the God freaks. I gave the group a try, and it’s not for me,” she tells Howie. Maybe there are too many reminders of Danny around the house. Maybe Becca needs to get out more. And what about that teenager Becca sees on the bus? Why is it so important to meet him? In the meantime, Becca isn’t the only one who’s hurting.
Grief is a topic that’s explored in films on a fairly regular basis. Since the story direction generally follows a fairly predictable path, what makes or breaks a film like this is the acting and the philosophical exploration. To its credit, Rabbit Hole gets high marks on both counts. Also, it’s not manipulative or overly dramatic. That said… it’s not a particularly enjoyable film to watch. Nor was it intended to be. Different characters struggle with grief, each in a different way. One character writes a story about a parallel universe called “The Rabbit Hole.” While others rely on traditional approaches for restoring normalcy, none of these approaches offer any comfort for Becca. She needs to go to the most unlikely of places if she’s ever going to find her path.
3 popped kernels
Interesting, moving and well done… complicated and deeply emotional
Rated: PG-13
Primary Audience: Grown-ups
Gender Appeal: Any audience
Distribution: Art house
Mood: Somber
Tempo: In no hurry
Visual Style: Nicely varnished realism
Character Development: Intense
Language: True to life
Social Significance: Thought provoking
