Review of Mute (2016) by Ezgi E — 26 Feb 2018

Disappointing. Expected so much more..hate to say that the critics are right about this one.

Never felt the romance, the actress playing Naadirah seemed to be dubbed as her speeches sounded robotic without any emotions and as if from a microphone and never authentic or real. No chemistry at all and there are a lot of weird kissing scenes of them. How unintentionally funny is actually the scene where they make love to each other in Leo's workshop while the door is open, and somehow end up being in Leo's flat? There is a general odd pace, the cinematography is never constant and the motivations of the characters are left open and undisclosed. The ending appears cheesy and unauthentic and the point of view constantly shifts which muddles the plot. The story should have been merely told through Leo's eyes since he can't talk which would add an artistic glimmer to the film.

The score by Clint Mansell is out of this world and really enhances the atmosphere of the movie which the poor dialogues and plot cannot support.

There is just one single female character in the movie and her only purpose is being Leo's girlfriend and sex partner...nothing else. She is half-naked, has blue hair and is being verbally assaulted and offended by some random guys (especially one black guy) from a quirky nightclub. These scenes and some other unsettling paedophilic scenes are pushed in front of the viewer without any real sense and depth (in regard to the plot) and also remain unpunished as if these are totally normal matters.

...everyone seems to ask the same question after finishing the movie. Why was this set in the future? What purpose does the enhanced technology have at all, e.g. the flying cars? Again, the hedonistic wet dreams of male directors are made visible through creating a cyberpunk future consisting of half-naked waitresses, strippers, sex robots, unpunished sexual acts...etc.

If you are eager to watch the movie after seeing the trailer which emphasised some dark secrets, mysteries, lies.. in regard to the plot-device-girlfriend, then I'm sorry to tell you that a mystery does not exist.

Being a fan of the director, this movie hurts my feelings.