Raum (2015)

Raum: Directed by Lenny Abrahamson. With Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Sean Bridgers, Wendy Crewson. Held captive for 7 years in an enclosed space, a woman and her young son finally gain their freedom, allowing the boy to experience the outside world for the first time.

“That review summary may sound very oxymoronic, but to me it applies to a film such as u0026#39;Roomu0026#39;. A film with a difficult subject, that is the stuff of nightmares, but tells it so beautifully with an interesting approach that works better than all the potential traps that films of its genre could fall under.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhat could have easily have been told in a lurid, gratuitous way (being inspired by the true-life case of Josef Fritzl) is instead told in a careful and restrained way. There is even an innocence in u0026#39;Roomu0026#39;, due to its very fascinating decision to tell it from the viewpoint of a five year old, in this case Jack, one that comes off very movingly and gives a sense that there is a little ray of hope in a seemingly hopeless situation. The source material, equally brilliant, is to be thanked here, its author Emily Donoghue adapts it to screen here and none of its power is lost. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eReally appreciated the careful and restrained approach to the storytelling in u0026#39;Roomu0026#39;, and for me and many others it was something different considering the subject. It does though affect some of the pacing in the middle act, where a little of the tension seen in especially the first part is lost a little. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFor my tastes too, though it probably did fit the filmu0026#39;s younger and more innocent viewpoint itu0026#39;s told from, the music score does lay it on too thick with the treacle.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHowever, loved how the story was told and its approach. What u0026#39;Roomu0026#39; also strongly benefitted from being told this way was that the mother and son relationship was able to shine through and really resonate, which it may not have done as effectively with a heavier tone. And shine through it does, with great charm and poignancy. Also appreciated that none of the characters were painted too black and white, even Old Nick. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eProduction values are effectively claustrophobic and the nocturnal parts chillingly nightmarish. u0026#39;Roomu0026#39; is beautifully directed by someone who understood how claustrophobic thrillers worked, how mother and son bonds do in dire situations do and the ability to combine both to ensure a powerful experience. A directing job thatu0026#39;s both unsettling and empathetic. Similarly u0026#39;Roomu0026#39; is written with effortless skill and deft thoughtfulness. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eCanu0026#39;t find anything to fault the performances. The superb one of Brie Larson, that was a very worthy Oscar (Golden Globe and Bafta too) win in her category, is an obvious starting point, but one mustnu0026#39;t overlook the beyond-his-years turn of young Jacob Tremblay, one of the best child acting performances in recent years, and William H Macy and Joan Allen both giving some of their best work in years. Sean Bridgers also gives much more to what could have been a standard cliché role.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOverall, great powerful film but the somewhat fascinatingly unconventional (for the genre) way the story was told wonu0026#39;t work for some. 9/10 Bethany Cox”