Review of Marion Bridge (2003) by Eric F — 21 Dec 2008

"Marion Bridge" is a film that should be good, but it's simply not. The majority of the performances are good enough, the direction is mostly solid, and although the screenplay is ridden with cliches, it's tolerable. Something about the film, however, never works. Director Wiebke von Carolsfeld's work just never seems to get any momentum, and we never really feel for anyone. While the characters are relatable, and the drama should ring true due to how understated and believable it is, there's something so phony about what's happening. I keep referring to a mysterious "something", however pinpointing one problem is impossible. There's a whole bunch of little problems that hold the film down to the level it's at.

The film was based off a play, and playwright Daniel MacIvor also wrote the script. It deals with a story reminiscent of a soap opera, and although it's never blatant in it's melodrama, it's certainly a film that thinks it's more subtle than it is.

In the film, we're dealing with characters who are nothing more than archetypes. Consider, for instance, Agnes, the main female protagonist. She was molested by her father when she was young, and she's the family screw up who seems to get nothing right. We've seen that before. There's nothing remarkable that MacIvor is adding, and this material is presented in such an underwhelming setting that it's incredibly dry. And this is not dry and low-key in a good way, either. Rather, it's boring.

The film centers around a dying mother of three, Rose (Marguerite McNeil), a devout Catholic who keeps a flask and a rosary close on her deathbed. She's also an avid smoker, and throughout the film she painfully gasps for air in coughing fits. One of her three daughters, Agnes (Molly Parker), has returned from rehab in order to visit Rose for what may end up being the last time. Agnes has visited before and has never received a warm welcome - she's a recovering alcoholic, and she's even had experience with harder drugs like cocaine. Her nasty habit is that she'll visit and leave with problems untouched. Of course, her sisters are suspicious and less than enthused when she returns yet again.

The oldest is Theresa (Rebecca Jenkins), who is still not over her failed marriage. In between the two, you have Louise (Stacy Smith), who we never see doing anything but sitting in front of the television. No matter what time it is, she replies "my show is on" upon being talked to. The other significant character is Agnes' 15-year-old daughter, Joanie (Ellen Page), whom she birthed after having been raped by her father. Joanie lives with an adoptive mother (Hollis McLaren), and is not aware that Agnes is her real mother. Agnes pays visits to Joanie's craft shop on many occasions. Of course, you can expect what happens in the end.

The acting here is largely heartfelt and appropriate. As a lead, Molly Parker was convincing albeit fairly boring due to being such an amalgamation of many characters we've seen before. Rebecca Jenkins is also very good, and she was perhaps the character that left the biggest impression on me. My biggest problem with the cast was Marguerite McNeil, but bless her heart for coughing so miserably for so long. I respect her efforts tremendously, but I thought her performance was so over-the-top and unbelievable that it immediately took me out of the film. Perhaps it would've been more fitting on stage, but in a film setting she stuck out like a sore thumb. It was also interesting to see Ellen Page, who is now a star thanks to "Juno", before getting her break in "Hard Candy". She does well for herself here, but again is largely forgettable.

"Marion Bridge" refers to a folk song of the same name that is played at the end of the film. That song is obviously appropriate on screen, but the rest of the soundtrack, somber electric guitar, was unfitting and seemed to be trying too hard. It's a film that tries to be subtle, but at the same time the director's thumbprint is planted so firmly on the reel that it's impossible to not feel manipulated. I really didn't like this.