What would you do if your whole world was confined to a room?
Directed by Lenny Abrahamson and distributed by A24 Films, Room is a poignant and sublime story of undying love and trust between a mother and her child, based on Emma Donoghue's novel of the same name. The film already has loads of critical acclaim, nominations and a trove of awards including the recent Golden Globe for Best Actres, to its credit.
Image copyright of A24 Films
The first few minutes into the movie and you are gripped by such strangeness that one starts to question the decision of watching it in the first place. Questions explode in your mind- why a kitchen, bathtub, toilet, sink, closet, bed, all in one dingy expanse of a room; is the child with such long locks a girl or a boy; why is the mother lying about real human beings on TV to be imaginary ones; and why the sudden shouts on top of their lungs? But as the story unfolds, it becomes evident that the mother (Brie Larson) who appears psychologically disturbed at first, is actually battling to keep her son (Jacob Tremblay) from the very fact that their world is a forced encapsulation in a tiny shed.
Image copyright of A24 Films
Image copyright of A24 Films
Image copyright of A24 Films
Lured into captivity at age 17, Joy has been raising her son, Jack, born and growing up in the confines of the four walls which defines the world for him. The only connection with the outside is through the skylight. The duo do everything together, except for when Old Nick visits them for his carnal pleasures or brings in supplies. The kid sleeps in the closet hidden from the evil-doer (believing him to be an imaginary being). Waiting for the opportune time, on his 5th birthday, Joy reveals to him the truth about the "room", the real world outside, their plight and the true nature of her captor-Old Nick (Sean Bridgers). Willed by the desire to give her son a chance at freedom and buy her own liberation in the process, Joy, after two failed attempts, plans a daring escape for Jack training him to act dead while rolled up in a carpet. Equipping him with a hand written note and a broken tooth of hers, she makes Jack memorise the steps to freedom- "truck stops, wiggle out, jump, run and give the note to the first person you see".
Excellently captured by cinematographer Danny Cohen, Jack's innocence, simplicity, curiosity in the form of budding intelligence and expressive eyes along with Joy's fear and angst keep one riveted to the screen. Their faces frequently fill the frame with intense emotions hitting home.
Image copyright of A24 Films
Will Jack escape? And even if so, will he be able to come to terms with the "outside" or will the "inside" draw him back; will the law trace his escape back to his Ma? What happens of Joy; having lost a vital segment of her life to the confinement would she, if found, be able to cope up with the world that has long since moved on? Watch the film to find out. I was moved and hope you will be too.
Watch trailer
here
