Review of Rabbit Hole (2010) by Gerardo R — 18 Jan 2013

I am naturally drawn to Nicole Kidman's characters and have always been impressed by her dramatic performances. She knows how to tap into the raw emotions of sadness, grief, disenchantment and relate it in her performances. Rabbit Hole is a very difficult and emotionally draining film, but it is worth every second because it deals successfully with aspects of life that we would rather avoid.

The film begins eight months after Becca and Howie experienced the death of their young son. It covers their attempt to find comfort in a support group. It shows us how they try to deal with their grief and feelings or how they try to avoid them. They have lost the connection with each other and have grown more distant as they each have separate ways of dealing with the same loss. In the house, they barely speak to each other, they barely touch each other. The film presents their struggles in a very honest and sincere way. As a father I can relate to it, but it most likely would be too painful for people who have experienced this or who could not even contemplate such a scenario. The scenes are simple, the action is simple, but the emotional level is wide and deep. It is not a film with a plot, per se. It is more about an experience that draws you in so that the viewer relates to their pains and struggles. Since it was originally a stage play, it is also meant more for an audience that can relate to that art form.