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Room

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Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay in Room. (AP)
Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay in Room. (AP)

What it’s about:

When we first meet Jack, he seems like a happy little boy celebrating his birthday and living with his mom. But we soon find out that he and his mother are actually being held against their will in a small room with door that only locks from the outside. This is the story of how they got there and what happened to them from the perspective of the five year old child.

What we thought:

TRIGGER WARNING - This film and therefore this review contains mentions of rape, abuse and suicide from the outset and throughout.

This Oscar contender is based on the best-selling book of the same name by Emma Donoghue who also wrote the screenplay; it was deftly directed by Lenny Abrahamson (What Richard Did).

This movie grew on me, slowly. I found it hard to watch some of the scenes which alluded to rape, detailed a kidnapping and centred on a harrowing situation as well as mental health issues resulting from it.

It is, without question, a horrible story but it is well told and incredibly well acted by Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay. What I enjoyed the most was the way in which the story telling technique of using a 5 year old’s POV highlights the traumatic nature of the two protagonists’ journey and a child’s bemusement at a new world.

Another highlight was the character development and depth not only given to the leads but the supporting players as well. The movie enveloped me into a world that I wanted to escape at times but simply couldn’t.

It’s not hard to see why Room is a nominee for best picture alongside 3 other nominations for the film, including Actress in a Leading Role, Directing, and Adapted Screenplay; such a shame that Tremblay wasn’t nominated for best actor as I think that he is a scene stealer of epic proportions and if he isn’t chewed up and spat out but the Hollywood machine will be a name to remember.

That being said some people will find it too heavy to stomach like Precious based on the novel Push by Sapphire or 12 Years a Slave which hit a little close to home.

It is emotionally trying to watch; like a rollercoaster of tear-jerking lows and bitter sweet highs, I would definitely recommend watching it this weekend with a friend and a strong drink and a big box of tissues.

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