Wander Darkly

Married couple Adrienne (Sienna Miller) and Matteo (Diego Luna) has a car accident. She seems to be dead as she exists in purgatory living out one memory after another.

The first half struggles to find a narrative drive. It needs a mystery, a goal, or a point to the story. In a way, it's stuck in purgatory like the protagonist. There is a mystery to be had if the film doesn't start with her in a morgue drawer. The first half could be her struggling to figure out if she's dead. The second half does find a couple of points and it gets interesting. All in all, there is some fine acting and this is a fine small indie.

This movie makes sense when you know that it is mostly the writer-director's own story. She and her husband were in a bad automobile accident and when she regained consciousness she wouldn't see. Thus the title 'Wander Darkly.' She developed that experience into this fictional story.

The couple are Sienna Miller as Adrienne and Diego Luna as Matteo. They are not married but decided to have a child who is a few months old when the movie starts. They have relationship baggage that needs to get sorted out and their accident is the catalyst for that.

It would be impossible for me to write a logical narrative after viewing the movie, in many ways it is like watching a series of dream sequences. However I enjoyed it, both lead actors are very good in their roles, especially Miller.

I watched it at home on DVD from my public library. My wife skipped, she was on a golf trip.

I would have rated this at a 5 but give it a 7 as the director actually lived the idea in the plot (director's commentary) and so has first hand knowledge. That fact always gives it a nudge upwards for me as there is truth in the story and not just there for entertainment. Sometimes truth in the story is not compatible with better pacing in a film, but for me reality wins out every time. If it starts to drag a bit, keep at it as the ending is worth the wait.

3.5 out of 5 stars.

Wander Darkly is a pretty fair film about a couple Adrienne (Sienna Miller) and Matteo (Diego Luna) who are struggling with there relationship. When an accident leaves them in a trauma. Where they face the past and current conflict with there relationship. They try to resolve there conflict that is holding them back.

The plot i can not say much more without going into spoiler territory. It was surprisingly good. A car accident affecting them both. Such as facing life after death. Dealing with loss and grief. And how a humans mind work itself in dealing with trauma. Adrienne and Matteo are dealing with a troubled relationship. Where they test each others love for one and another.

It is an emotional movie. And has a twist that will keep you guessing til the end. Diego Luna and Sienna Miller did a great job with there roles.

I did find the exposition being too dragged on. And slow in the end. But it is a wonderful film.

The movie could have been great but Sienna Miller's character is so unlikable I just couldn't get into it or care about anything going on in the film. The script needed to create a love connection between the leads in order for me to invest emotionally into the story and the trauma they suffered.