In The Bedroom

Todd Field's directorial debut is a work of refreshing clarity, a work that hits almost every note it is aiming for, and offers some unexpected twists and turns in the process. It's the type of delicate storytelling that critics fall in love with. There's no forced emotions, there's little flashy photography. Essentially the camera is an outside observer to the events and characters that live within the world the film is trying to capture. In The Bedroom is an excellent example of directorial restraint, containing only the necessary elements of filmmaking and offering a subtle examination into the forceful nature of grief.

The film is an actors paradise, giving the two principles two complex characters to work with, and the leads in turn give some fantastic performances. Indeed, Tom Wilkinson's and Sissy Spacke's performances are two of the best of the year. They're able to flesh out their remarkably complex characters, and relate an astounding range of emotions. Each is a model of the human condition, acting out actions that no one would ever prefer to have to do and sitting sideline to events that no person could live through unscathed. The effects of horrifying actions are visible on the actor's faces. As the film progresses you're able to see them gradually get worn out and depressed. Such subtlety is a great accomplishment.

The film is beautifully shot, creating a sense of interrelatedness between man and nature. The small town life nuzzled amongst the wilderness is captured effortlessly by Field's camera. And the quiet anger of Matt (Wilkinson) and Ruth (Spacek) hurl at each other during one particularly savage scene is amazing to behold. This magnificent scene is oppressingly quiet except for the rise and fall of their voices. Truly, In The Bedroom is a great example of the unthinkable happening to the most unlikely people. It shows that tragedy profoundly effects even the most likable people, and even the most solid marriages can become hazardous in the wake of a fateful occurence. In The Bedroom is one of those films that will become better with time, but already it is a great piece of film making.

On a scale of 1 to 10 repressed emotions : 8