Respite

The lead actor Monte Bezell, reminded me of Andy Garcia. All but one actor acted as if they were seriously reading from a script. The man who owned the hookah shop was the best actor.

The story was really good however the acting was very played out. Disappointed but I still gave it 4 *.

I did not enjoy 'Respite'. First of all the dialogue was trite; the characters in no way communicate as normal people would. It's very stilted, formal and over dramatic. Second, the viewer comes away with no understanding of the abusers' internal rationale for their actions beyond the prurient, so the film offers no illumination or human insight on the issue it's attempting to address. Finally, the acting varied widely from a few decent performances to outright BAD-the ending scene is basically comical. In short, it's a film best forgotten.

The narrative of Respite is compelling, dark and dramatic as it weaves a story around cultural taboos, through the adage "win at any cost", along with peripheral mosaics of savage acts against humanity, only to twist, interlace and ultimately reveal its fully entwined tapestry of truth.

The production reveals a sensitive history filled with challenges requiring moderation and restraint, pivoting on the admission of complicit consent of a western force embedding itself along side unrecognizable foreign customs.

The juxtaposition of personal consuming grief and professional credos weigh heavy against the omnipresent battle of good over evil and light over dark.

The evocative score adds a haunting underlayment artfully enriching the audience experience with a soulful shroud of emotion.

In one word, Respite is - compelling.

I watched Respite and wish I could have that 90 minutes of my life back. I have no idea what the "filmmakers" were thinking. Respite tells a tale of childhood abduction and prostitution in the Middle East, which could have been an intriguing subject except for the lurid way the producers approached it, using cliched characters and cheesy dialogue. The ending is heavy-handed and the acting is amateur, the whole thing is painful to watch. I gave it 2 stars for a couple of reasons (for example the actor who played Alves was interesting and occasionally the Jimmy Baz character showed depth) but otherwise this is a cheap and unintelligent movie that does not have actors strong enough to save it.

I'm not usually into action and crime dramas but I really liked Respite. The acting is great and the story line pulls you in. There are so many movies to watch while lockdown restrictions are still in effect and If you're looking for something néw and riveting to watch, I highly recommend this one.