Review of Take This Waltz (2011) by Greg T — 31 Aug 2012

Arty without being pretentious, melancholy without being maudlin, and wise without being preachy, Sarah Polley's depiction of a gentle decline into possible infidelity is engrossing & very impressive.

A chance meeting of neighbours, one married, far away from home leads to plentiful lingering glances, tortured conversations & grasped moments of dangerous excitement that can only lead to heartbreak for at least one of them.

Polley lets the dilemma evolve naturally, occasionally throwing out some directorial flourishes & a shocker of a sequence that comes out of left-field but works well in context. Michelle Williams is beguiling & frustrating, & Seth Rogan does well as the husband who promises stability & a cosy kind of love, while Luke Kirkby is affective as the mysterious obscure object of desire across the road.

TAKE THIS WALTZ will probably resonate with anyone who's been in a long-term relationship, whether it be the thrill & fear of temptation or the horror & fear of rejection, and it's most likely a film that'll stay with you long after it ends.