Hannah

The movie Hannah is about those who live without friends. Hannah is the wife of a criminal who because of his crime is a victim. Hannah can't sleep. She is in an impossible situation, but there seem to be no redemption.

What crime has he committed? Why is Hannah met with hate?

More can't be told, it should be felt.

The movie tells fragments of a story without explaining. You'll hav eto sit back and guess.

This is therefore not a film for everybody. It's a movie for those able to feel what loneliness and compassion, and even empathy towards someone who are living a life she didn't choose.

There's a lot of Hannahs around.

Still I would have liked this film to have more of a plot. But Charlotte Rampling is faultless and riveting in her display as Hannah. She' really one of the best, and has deserved the prices she won for this role.

Twenty minutes into the movie I realized that I didn't know where it was going and that it gave me not enough clues to be ever figured out. But I kept on watching Rampling. Enjoying every moment of it.

Is it too much to ask for a plot?

A very subtle, evocative independent film, with an existential atmosphere recalling Ingmar Bergman's works.

It's a quiet, serene picture of beautifully composed scenes, creating an ambience of seclusion and isolation. We experience the lonely life of a woman who has been rejected by everyone in her life, except her only outlet, a theater group she is involved with.

Some, inexperienced with artistic films, may not appreciate its somber nature. And it's definitely not for those expecting a complete narrative. The film is one big question mark of what happened to her, left up to the viewer's interpretation.

Hannah is a homage to Charlotte Rampling, who should have received more nominations for this performance, and who I hope will receive an achievement award for her career.

Im used to watching slow japanese movies. but didnt really found it stimulating enough as i was multitasking. imreaching the end and realizing that hteres no conflict.. i remembered a conflict from the trailer, so i start jumping back to all the meaningful scenes .. then i read the review from a guy here pointing our some more detailes i missed its wonderful in this aspect. this is exactly how i wouldve done a movie > like a puzzle, making people think. what i wouldnt have done, is create this unstimulating trial.. almost everything happening in the movie thats not tied to the conflict is level 1-2 stimulation out of 5. . thats not how it works.. the human mind needs more.

"Hannah" (2017 release from Italy; 95 min.) brings the story of Hannah, an elderly lady. As the movie opens, we see Hannah and her husband go about their daily routine, and then it becomes clear that something is up, before we know it, Hannah's husband is getting ready to be dropped off at a prison. What is going on here? At this point we're less than 10 min. into the movie but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: this is the latest movie from Italian director Andrea Pallaoro, who previously gave us the equally excellent "Medeas". Here Pallaoro goes one better yet, and looks at how an elderly woman deals with the consequences of her long-time husband going to prison. The first issue is of course, what did the husband don exactly? The answer is given in subtle hints at various points in the movie, but one might even argue that it isn't all that relevant, as indeed the focus is on Hannah. She tries to make the best of a terrible situation, and continues to provide support to her husband. When she goes to visit him in prison, she musters a smile when he appears, to which he snarls "Why are you laughing?". Just chilling. And what to say about this extraordinary performance (yet again) by Charlotte Rampling? As she continues to age gracefully (she is now in her early 70s), she continues to find (or be offered) roles that are challenging and rewarding (check out also 2015's $5 Years, and this year's Red Sparrow).

"Hannah" premiered at last year's Venice Film Festival to immediate critical acclaim (Rampling won the Best Actress award). I happen to catch this during a recent family visit to Belgium. The Saturday early evening screening where I saw this at in Antwerp, Belgium was attended quite nicely, somewhat to my surprise, given that this is not the most joyful of films. If you are in the mood for a great character study of an elderly woman dealing with difficult issues, I'd readily suggest you check this out. It's doubtful at this point that this will get a US theatrical release, so look for it on VOD or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray.