Review of Lantana (2001) by Andrew M — 29 Sep 2007

This film from New Zealand appears on the surface to be a simple mystery, with a missing person, plenty of suspicious characters, dark imagery, and tortured emotions. But the true mystery is how people relate to one another, from friendship to love, from distrust to hate.

The six couples in the film intertwine in surprising ways, and in this little universe, their interactions illuminate the truths behind the simplest-seeming relationships. Wonderfully acted, directed, and scored, Lantana creeps under your skin and takes root, like the plant that it takes its name from, like destructive (yet self-preserving) suspicion, like the mysteries of life and love.