Review of Detachment (2011) by Lidia M — 26 Feb 2013

This film was resting for a long time on a shelf before I finally decided to watch it. I was afraid to find another version of "Dangerous Minds", but luckily enough I was positively surprised. It is not another naive story with simplistic answers to complicated problems.

This psychological drama tells us a story about a teacher who tries to detach himself from people and their problems. Still suffering trauma after his mother suicide, Henry Barthes decides to lead a lonely life as a substitute teacher. He refuses to connect with other people and their emotions as a form of self-defense. We capture him in one of the New York high schools where he started work as a temporary teacher. In a 3 weeks period we observe his boundaries losing up, letting others to have an impact upon his life, allowing himself to feel something more than usual numbness. It brings pain and chaos - emotions perfectly presented by Adrian Brody.

Very powerful, touchy and full of tension story.