One Eyed Girl

I'm shocked at the negative reviews. I found this movie to be really powerful. Yes it's slow at first, but it's a beautiful story of self realization and triumph over internal suffering. The ending was a surprise and made the main character's transformation even more deep and real.

I saw this movie last year at the ECU film festival in Paris and still to this day, I think about it often. I am not familiar with Australian movies but I am so grateful the organizers of the festival have selected this movie. The concept of healing the soul was really disturbing to me and very powerful. It made me change the way I view negative past experience. The idea I had of Australia was beaches, surf and ice cream but the decor is more like a Scandinavian thriller movie. The music has great beauty and makes the movie really haunting. This is a deep analysis of a man's life into the darkest places in his head. The cast was really well chosen and their performances shows so much courage and intelligence. This is the first movie for this director and I am impatient to see more of his work.

The film doesn't provide easy answers or fast-paced thrills. Instead, it offers a complex exploration of human suffering, the search for meaning, and the seductive power of belief systems. There are layers of tension that unfold quietly and methodically, making it feel more like a psychological investigation than a thriller in the conventional sense. While it may not boast the visceral impact of more overtly dramatic films in the genre, One Eyed Girl taps into a very real fear: the fear of losing control over one's own mind and identity.

What sets this film apart is its ability to balance character-driven drama with its philosophical and moral inquiries. The church that Travis stumbles upon isn't just a backdrop for the plot; it's a manifestation of Travis's fragile state of mind. Father Jay's influence over the group is subtle and insidious, and as we see Travis become more and more entangled with the church's practices, it's clear that the line between self-redemption and self-destruction is disturbingly thin.

I have to agree with one of the other reviewers that there isn't much, if anything, to recommend this by-the-books cult drama.

We have a chemically-dependent, terminally depressed young shrink (played convincingly enough by Mark Leonard Winter) whose young patient's suicide drives him over the edge, leading him into a cult-like EST-ish back-to-nature group led by Father Jay (Steve le Marquand).

Father Jay's group is all about getting "clear" (sound familiar?) and uses various punishing physical and mental techniques to supposedly "heal the soul".

So... is there anything you've heard so far that leads you to believe this is unlike any other cult you've heard about before?

Nope, didn't think so. And there isn't. I guess this might be shocking material for those who've never heard of brainwashing or even Charlie Manson, but it's snooze-inducing for those of us who have.

It's a pity because this isn't a poorly made film. The acting is decent. It just revolves around a non-story that's ordinary and non-compelling, to be kind. It's only 103 minutes, but it feels like a century. What a complete waste of everyone's time, including ours.

Beautiful Sorrow is a deeply emotional film that lingers in your heart long after the credits roll. It tells the story of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit, capturing the raw essence of grief in a way that feels profoundly real.

The film's lead actor delivers a breathtaking performance, portraying the protagonist's pain and longing with such authenticity that it's impossible not to feel their anguish. The cinematography is equally stunning, using muted colors and lingering shots to emphasize the weight of the emotions. The soundtrack-soft, melancholic piano melodies-only amplifies the film's heartbreaking atmosphere.

While A Beautiful Sorrow is undeniably heavy, it never feels manipulative. Instead, it allows the audience to sit with the sadness, to reflect on their own experiences with loss, and to appreciate the fleeting beauty of life. It's a film that doesn't just make you cry; it makes you feel.

If you're looking for a deeply moving experience, this film is a must-watch. Just be sure to have a box of tissues nearby.