Review of Lorna's Silence (2008) by Nikolas G — 24 Jan 2011

A penetrating, bleak drama about a woman caught between her conscience and her desire to lead a better life. It's all about the details in this film, one look there..one exchange of money here. Every little glance and movement is important.

The Dardenne brother's are masters in making realistic films and this one is no less. The character's motivations at first seem vague but we soon realize that our main character Lorna has gotten herself into a lot of trouble and can't seem to get out no matter how hard she tried but I guess a part of me asks: "Could she have tried harder"? She clearly ending up caring for her husband, she should have revealed to him that she was involved in a scam to kill him.

Perhaps they could have thought a way out together. The film touches on the issue of immigration and sham marriages without going too much deeper into it, perhaps because it's more about the character of Lorna and her turmoil than that.

Lorna seems like a good human being, the scenes with her drug addict husband are poignant. There are times where she can't even be near him because of his addictions, she'd rather look away. She tries not to get emotionally involved with her husband but soon does.

There's a quiet desperation in her eyes, as she goes about her daily business. Dobroshi gives a wonderful, delicate performance. The film depends a lot on her and she holds it all up well. The ending is quite haunting, we don't know if Lorna lives or dies.

But at least she has taken the first right decision in a long time.