Review of Take This Waltz (2011) by Jacob B — 02 Mar 2014

I feel like I understand Sarah Polley, and she understands me. This film is strangely uncanny in its portrayal of a relationship. It might seem like the message she wrote is that we all long for a perfect relationship, when that is completely off the mark. She manages to put something more complex in there. Life is good, it can be good, but as life goes on we might encounter something or someone that kindles that fire inside slowly up from a slow blaze until it becomes something you can't ignore. It forces you to step up to the line and decide whether this temptation worth the risk. But like all fires, it eventually dies down and flickers out.

Polley cues these moments subtly enough that we can recognize them instantly, as long as you've faced these fantasies yourself. What her mind, and mine, conjures up can never be matched by reality. I have to applaud her for digging into my head and giving that slight nudge to wake up when I am half dreaming.