Respite

This story is an important one & one where we can all agree must be told. I can see where the writers are bringing about an awareness for those who suffer at the hands of others.

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.

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 *.

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.

This film held my interest from the beginning and never slowed down. A compelling story, well crafted plot, and a great job of editing.

The actors gave some great performances, particularly Monte Bezell as Jimmy Baz, and Julián Juaqin as Alves.