Lorna's Silence (2008)

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

With Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne's fifth feature film, Lorna's Silence, they decided to take a surprisingly unique approach to their style in that they made it look more like a film than anything they had done before. Gone are the intimate, gritty hand-held tracking shots that place the audience into the perspective of the characters and shoot from odd, seemingly improvised angles. Instead, each shot here is much more staged and deliberate, focused on Lorna (Arta Dobroshi) and making sure the audience is able to appreciate all of her surroundings in each moment. It was an interesting approach from the Dardennes and I have to admit a little jarring at first, but this step into a more conventional shooting style provided the film with a contrast from their previous work that I certainly appreciated.As much as I adore their other work, it was nice to see them trying something new and ultimately it worked. The more conventional style does a service for the more conventional narrative structure of the film as well, as for the first time they work with a central plot that encompasses the entire picture, rather than focusing on a more free-formed character study. Lorna is an Albanian emigrant living in Belgium, in an arranged marriage to Claudy (Jeremie Renier) in order to acquire Belgian citizenship so that she can enter another arranged marriage with the Russian Andrei (Anton Yakovlev) after her and Claudy divorce. It's an elaborate scheme all run through Fabio (Fabrizio Rongione), a taxi driver looking to make some extra cash.The setup is unexpectedly complex for the Dardennes, but what's not unexpected is how they approach the story primarily as a way to explore this character. They're not worried about whether the audience is keeping up with all of the semantics of the arranged marriages and divorces because they aren't too worried about it either; instead they're focused on how all of this is impacting Lorna, and that puts them right into their wheelhouse. In exploring this character, they take their trademark understated approach, letting the emotions sink in rather than explode outwardly. This provides for some fantastic internal acting by newcomer Arta Dobroshi, who shines even more tremendously in the few moments where she is able to let those emotions come out. The role marks a genuine "star is born" performance from Dobroshi, someone who we will hopefully be seeing much more of in the near future.The supporting cast all puts in great work, but I have to give particular mention to Renier, who shines once again in an unusual way. The Dardennes have used Renier in four of their six feature films and it's easy to see why. Without changing his physical appearance remotely he is somehow able to be a complete chameleon in each of his roles. The way he holds himself, the way he moves, the way he approaches any given situation, each and every role he is a completely new person and it's extraordinary to watch because you don't see this guy acting at all. He is the true definition of an actor, one who strips away any semblance of himself and disappears entirely into each and every new performance he gives. You look at his work in L'Infant, this and the Dardennes next feature The Kid With A Bike and it's unbelievable the transformations he goes through.One of the many interesting things here was the physicality of the film, how the muted emotions were able to manifest themselves in the physical moments such as Lorna slamming her head into a wall to prove that Claudy beats her or the raw and brazenly intimate sex scene. It's in these moments that the Dardennes' more authentic, quieter approach demonstrates it's true ability, making things that would seem ordinary in most films come as a shock and leave a lasting impact on the viewer.I won't give anything away, but around the halfway point the film takes a turn that I wasn't expecting at all and completely through me for a loop. While the Dardennes had been traveling a more conventional path than usual, in the final act they take Lorna's journey to a decidedly unique place. Their originality shines bright in this final act, with scene after scene that had my jaw open simply over how innovative they had taken the story. I can't give anything away and ruin it for others, but Lorna's Silence began in a more traditional route than I had come to expect from the Dardenne brothers and ended up going somewhere even less conventional than we had seen from them before. Yet another tremendous achievement from two of the best writer/directors working today.

Very minor spoiler ahead: Monumentally depressing. It was a great movie, really effective. You really get to care about the key characters which is why it's so heart-wrenching by the end. Very well-done. It was superbly acted, especially the female lead. She was very good. She could convey so much without delivering a single line. I would definitely look for other movies she was in. Not to mention the actor who played her husband. But still... I wish i hadn't watched it at all. SUCH a downer. If you want to feel moody and depressed, definitely give this a watch. If you want a happy ending? Do yourself a favor, go watch Who Framed Roger Rabbit or something.

Having now seen it twice - what a terrific film! Arta Dobroshi is literally on screen for every single scene, and for all but a few seconds of the film: an amazing performance. When will we see more of her? The subject-matter is pretty grim, and not for those who like only romcoms and the like. I love all the Dardenne brothers films: Rosetta, The Son, and The Child, which rivals Lorna for their best in my view. Their usual trademarks are here, hand-held cameras following the characters round, usually in close-up; drab industrial surroundings (the town of Liege I believe); characters on the margins of society, including here a dodgy Russian with his interpreter. A great movie.

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).