Marcas do silêncio

I just finished watching this movie again for the third time in the last two days. Each time I watch it I discover something I missed in the previous viewing. There are no wasted lines or scenes. It is a powerful 1996 movie with excellent performances, dealing with the touchy subject of child abuse.

Anjelica Huston is the director and this is her first attempt at directing a feature length movie. The results are stunning. It is altogether a flawless movie, with an excellent script based on the Dorothy Allison novel, and stars Jena Malone as the young protagonist. Jennifer Jason Leigh is in the tough role of the mother torn between the choices she faces in loving both her daughter and the abusive stepfather. Many times throughout the movie I sat on the edge of my seat stunned by the action happening onscreen. It is not a movie with pat answers and predictable solutions, but manages to show the complexities involved in each situation. There are no cardboard characters either, as in real life not everyone is totally good or evil, though their actions may dip into either category from time to time.

The most compelling performance, in a film loaded with excellent acting, comes from young Malone, who commands a role that many adult actresses would no doubt have trouble handling. Her face tells a thousand stories with each shot giving a multi-leveled meaning to the deeper motivations that lie within her character.

After the credits Glenne Headly provides further information about the subject and a child abuse hotline number, which is a great addition to a film of this sort. It is not "entertainment" per se, but more along the lines of an informational public service. The symptoms of child abuse are highlighted throughout the movie and the effect of everyone's participation documented as fair warning to the viewer.

I can't praise this movie enough. A film like this raises my awareness and compassion level and makes me want to reach out to help in any way I can. It exceeds expectations in just about every way imaginable.

This is an often shocking but necessary film about a young girl called Bone and the abuse she suffers at the hands of her stepfather, Daddy Glen. The film is hard to watch at times but there are lighter moments when Bone's extended family are on screen. The book contains a much wider scope and naturally many of these subplots didn't make it into the screenplay. Ultimately, the film feels a little rushed and could have benefited from another half hour or so.

The quality of the acting is patchy. Lyle Lovett's delivery of his few lines of dialogue is very wooden compared to Michael Rooker's excellent portrayal of gentle giant Earl. Jena Malone does a brilliant job in obviously difficult circumstances as young Bone. The look in her eyes breaks your heart whenever things are about to turn violent, making you want to rescue her yourself. Jennifer Jason Leigh is fine as Bone's mother but you feel like you never really get to see beneath the surface of her determined expression to understand her motives for standing by her man in the face of Glen's obvious resentment of her daughter.

Ron Eldard is excellent in his depiction Glen, expertly capturing the character's pathetic childishness behind those icy blue eyes. Eldard often seems to play characters with a dark side and this role plays to his strengths, even if his southern accent slips from time to time. His scenes of violence with Bone are harrowing to watch and you can't help but feel uncomfortable, given the age of Jena Malone at the time. I know it's 'only acting' but the scenes are very realistic and graphic for a young actress to endure.

The film is one that ought to be shown to any single mother tempted to jump into a relationship with a hot-headed young man with questionable intentions.

This is just a usual tale how a deeply stupid, dumb, senseless mother spoils the entire life of her daughter. The same story could be told in any part of the world. Oh yes, and be prepared to have your heart and soul tormented throughout the film.

Not for the Squeamish! It deals with sexual abuse of children. I saw an interview with Jenna Malone and she was emphatic to re-assure people that she was not herself abused during this film, she got along very well with Ron Eldard, and that she understood that it was acting, etc. I'll bet that some actors turned down the role, given the subject matter. From a standpoint of dealing with the subject matter honestly the director Angelica Huston pulled no punches. There's a haunting scene where Eldard was sitting in a car with Jena on his lap and he abuses her - I'm sure it was a very difficult scene to film! But it's a "must see" for the realistic portrayal of a true story.

Bastard Out of Carolina (1996)

*** (out of 4)

Graphic adaptation of the Dorothy Allison novel takes place in the South Carolina as a young girl (Jena Malone) begins to be physically and sexually abused by her stepfather (Ron Eldard) while her mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh) keeps overlooking what's going on. BASTARD OUT OF CAROLINA was the directorial debut from Anjelica Huston and while I'd question some of the flow in the story there's no question that she dives head first into the abuse and doesn't pull any punches. This here is a pretty hard film to watch because of how graphic it is towards the abuse in the film. I was really shocked at how much detail was shown when it came to the abuse because most of the time the camera pulls away with a child involved but that wasn't the case here. It's clear that Huston wanted to show how horrid the abuse of a child was and this here was shown and it certainly wasn't easy to watch. The film really benefits from some incredibly strong performances with Malone leading the way as the abused girl. She's completely believable in the part and it was certainly needed because the actress really makes you feel that she's this smart little girl being forced to grow up quickly because of her situation. Jennfier Jason Leigh also turns in a powerful performance as the mother who can't leave her husband even though he's hurting her daughter. Eldard is a complete slime here and perfectly captures the spirit of the character. We also get strong supporting performances by Michael Rooker, Lyle Lovett, Glenn Headly, Grace Zabriske, Diane Scarwid and Pat Hingle. Christina Ricci appears in one scene. I think there were times when the film didn't flow as good as it could have but there's no question that Huston gets her message across. The film is hard to recommend to most people due to how depressing and graphic it is but those who do sit through the film will be rewarded with a strong picture.