Their love is for LAMB

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming from director Valdimar Johannsson, Sjon and A24 comes the story of love, family and the secrets they keep with LAMB.

Maria (Noomi Rapace) and husband Ingvar (Hilmir Snaer Gudnason) live on a sheep farm far away from people out in the hills of Reykjavik, Iceland. Keeping their days filled with tending the sheep and being together, the time comes for all the females to give birth one by one. Maria and Ingvar deliver one lamb and their world is about to change.

Taking it indoors, Maria starts feeding the newborn and Ingvar brings in a crib to keep it safe. Day after day they enjoy the lamb but outside the window, there is trouble to bleating. When brother Petur (Bjorn Hlynur Haraldsson) comes to visit, he is not happy with what is going on. It is Ingvar that reminds him that he is a visitor, and his opinion is not invited.

Accepting everything, Petur finds himself finding respite and helping around their farm. They all spend time together not being bothered by anyone… but not anything.

Rapace as Maria has found something beautiful in their lamb named Ada. She embraces the life away from others and in a marriage that makes her happy. The thing I enjoy most about Rapace is her ability to say very little, yet everything is written on her face, in her eyes and body language. The film allows us to just follow her trusting that she will take us where we want to go.

Gudnason as Ingvar is happy to allow his wife to embrace the lamb into their home. He is also happy to lavish affection on the creature they helped bring into the world. There is also a deep sadness that he carries but keeps to himself. Gudnason is such a gentle soul from beginning to end and is the buffer between Maria and Petur.

Haraldsson as Petur is a destructive ex-rocker brother that seems to always find his way back to Ingvar and Maria. Not exactly sure what has been happening on the farm, he pushes emotional buttons until it turns on him.

A24 is an independent entertainment company that specializes in film and television production based in New York City. Films such as A GLIMPSE INSIDE THE MIND OF CHARLES SWAN III, the amazing EX MACHINA, ROOM and THE WITCH. Many of their films can be found on DirecTV Cinema and Amazon Prime. For more information, please visit www.a24films.com.

LAMB was the official selection of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard and also premiered at the BFI London Film Festival.

This film is filled with every human emotion imaginable starting with shock, but it is an almost fleeting thing as the story moves along. This is not a film that has or need a lot of dialogue, but I preferred that actually. Watching this couple decide how to live their lives is straight forward and refuses to offer excuses.

That being said, the story is also one of haunting and stunning beauty. Yes, Ada is the center of the story, but it is only a fraction of it. The story is also of two people in pain trying to live their lives the best they can and find happiness when they can. It is about the conflict of family and the history of secrets that are bubbling right below the calm surface.

Both Maria and Ingvar know it to be true. Finally, it is also a tale of loving what most would consider the unlovable with no hesitation and do not feel the need to justify that love. They are accepting, embracing and see the joy of their decision.

Sometimes there are life repercussions that cannot be ignored, and no one can avoid paying the ferryman.

In the end – it is mother nature!

 

 

There is Trauma in THE SECRETS WE KEEP

 Jeri Jacquin

This week from writer/director Yuval Adler, Ryan Covington and Bleeker Street is the story of pain and memories in THE SECRETS WE KEEP.

World War II is over and life in America for Romanian housewife Maja (Noomi Rapace) is busy one. Helping husband Lewis (Chris Messina) with his medical practice, they are a typical family raising young son Patrick (Jackson Vincent). While at the park, Maja hears something that brings about a unsettling memory.

A man whistling for his dog causes Maja to follow to see his face. Going home without answers, Maja starts to become nervous around Lewis and he notices. She becomes obsessed with discovering if the man is who she thinks he is and once its confirmed, another plan takes place.

Maja kidnaps Carl (Joel Kinnaman) and brings him to her basement. She finally comes clean with Lewis about her past, the war and who she believes is tied up in their basement. Questioning him and getting no answers, they decide to find out more about Carl and his past. Maja takes it as far as getting to know his wife Rachel (Amy Seimetz).

Declaring his innocence, Carl pleads for Lewis to listen and that Maja is mistaken. He tries his best, but Maja doesn't believe him and refuses to stop trying to get to the truth, no matter how painful for them all.

Rapace as Maja is a nervous chain-smoker who tries to a hide her past as deep inside her as possible. What happened in the war traumatized her so deeply that Lewis can always tell when something is wrong, he just does not know what it is. That is what makes Rapace so perfect for this role. She continues to show her strength in the roles she chooses, and this role is deep, intense and gut wrenching.

Messina as Lewis clearly loves his wife, son and his practice. He enjoys working with his wife and the community feeling he is contributing. He is shocked when Maja shares what is in their basement and why. He finds it all so difficult as his wife shares the secrets, she has been keeping from him for so long. Messina is understanding, suspicious and a husband trying to protect his wife.

Kinnaman as Carl has his own secrets that he is keeping from an unsuspecting wife. He pleads mainly with Lewis to understand that he is not the person Maja fears and that he is willing to walk away and forget the whole thing. Kinnaman is powerful for someone tied in a basement as everything Maja wants to know is in his eyes.

Seimetz as Rachel is a woman who is trying to understand why her husband would leave. Taking care of their two children now becomes her priority and she comes to appreciate Maja's visits. They talk about their husbands and lives, but Rachel does not know Maja is just getting information.

Other cast include Madison Jones as Annabelle, Jeff Pope as Jim White, David Maldonado as Officer Brouwer, Ed Amatrudo as Dr. Sonnderquist and Ritchie Montgomery as Mitchell.

Bleeker Street is a New York City film company that has brought outstanding films to the public. Their library includes TRUMBO, DENIAL, THE LOST CITY OF Z, BEIRUT, HOTEL MUMBAI, ORDINARY LOVE and THE ROADS NOT TAKEN. For more information on the titles from Bleeker Street please visit www.bleeckerstreetmedia.com.

THE SECRETS THEY KEEP is a story about survival and the trauma that follows years later. It's about remembering those loved and lost but never forgetting who caused the pain. Once Maja sees Carl, all the pain she has hidden from everyone in her life cannot be stuffed back down.

It is clear that Maja doesn't know exactly what she is doing or even what it is she truly wants. Revenge? Answers? She takes it one step at a time, one thought at a time and Lewis fears her as each episode passes. These three people are locked in madness created by the past and it will end - one way or another.

An excellent cast and a suspenseful story have been put together by Adler and Covington. The cast brings an intensity that leaves an ending that even I did not see coming. Fear is a terrible thing and makes people do things that would not ordinarily do and THE SECRETS THEY KEEP is an excellent example of that.

In the end - a quiet neighborhood with a secret past!

ANGEL OF MINE Brings Mystery to Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray/DVD, Digital and currently on VOD from director Kim Farrant and Lionsgate is the unbelievable mystery wrapped in the ANGEL OF MINE.

Lizzie (Noomi Rapace) has spent the last several years of her life drifting because of a terrible fire accident at the local hospital. She has been so deep in her emotions that husband Mike (Luke Evans) has moved out and son Thomas (Finn Little) is being effected. When Mike tells Lizzie that their son needs to come live in a less dark place, Lizzie is even more distraught.

Living on medications from her therapist and a job that just fills in the time, she happens to see the young Lola (Annika Whiteley) picking up Thomas from school. She is drawn to the child in such a way that she goes out of her way to meet Mom Claire (Yvonne Strahovski). Friending each other, their sons get along very well.

Lizzie spends moments with Lola and can't understand why there is a strange draw to the girl. Claire and husband Bernard (Richard Roxburgh) notice but don't make a big deal about it as they are trying to sell their home for a move. As the days go by, Claire becomes more and more aware of Lizzie and becomes disturbed.

The obsession takes over Lizzie's life to the point that everyone notices and an intervention happens with Mike taking their son and the therapist suggests inpatient care. Lizzie isn't about to let anyone change her feelings for Lola because she believes something that they could never comprehend.

That belief might drive her to an even darker place!

Rapace as Lizzie is a young mother suffering by trying to be something everyone wants her to be and that's 'normal'. Her day to day becomes a struggle to the point where son Thomas can't find happiness either feeling pulled into her medicated world. Rapace does such an amazing job of portraying a mother who has had her life taken over by everyone and afraid of her own feelings.

Strahovski as Claire is a mother who is happy with her family and sees that something is becoming strange with Lizzie. She will do anything to protect her family as Lizzie pops up unexpectedly to often fixated on her daughter Lola. Strahovski is a strong character who isn't about to let anyone hurt her family.

Evans as Mike is a man who can not seem to find a way to reach his estranged wife. He tries to tell her that it is tearing everyone apart but can't seem to reach her. He wants what is best for his son and at the moment - it isn't his mother. Roxburgh as Bernard tries to be kind to Lizzie and excuse some of her odd behavior but eventually he comes to understand his wife's concerns.

Little as Thomas is the one who suffers with a father who is no longer in the home and a mother who is in the home but isn't there for him. He doesn't want to be apart from his mother but it is all becoming to much for him and that's the sadness of it. Whiteley is a very charming young lady who has such a beautiful smile. She likes Lizzie and doesn't seem to feel any danger at all.

Other cast include Pip Miller as Carl, Tracy Mann as Lena, Indi Serafin as Jeremy, Rob Collins as Brian, Emily Gruhl as Courtney, Natalia Rozpara as Majka and Mirko Grillini as Dr. Armand.

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000 motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

 

ANGEL OF MINE  is an intense psychological thriller that doesn't give itself away. There is a fine line between what Lizzie thinks she sees and what is true. Trying to be a wife doesn't work, trying to be a good mother fails, trying to be a good daughter only brings judgement and just being a person is painful.

Rapace manages to handle all that in one character and do it extremely well. Then again I might be a tad partial because I have always enjoyed her performances since seeing her in the 2009 THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. She took one of my favorite characters from book to screen and I've followed her ever since.

She has such an intensity and that is absolutely required to play the role of Lizzie. She has the mannerisms, expressions and sense of urgency that this character needed to be believeable. Add to the Strahovski and these two women bring this story to a climax that made my jaw drop. Well done ladies!

In the end - there are two sides to every secret!

STOCKHOLM is Filled with Twists on a Bank Heist

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from writer/director Robert Budreau and Smith Global Media is the story of a bank heist that would lead to a phrase we all know beginning with STOCKHOLM.

It is 1973 and Lars Nystrom (Ethan Hawke) along with partner Gunnar Sorensson (Mark Strong) have decided that they are going to rob a bank in Stockholm, Sweden. Taking hostages including Bianca Lind (Noomi Rapace), they work with officials to get what they want.

What they want is money and an escape car and make it very clear to Chief Mattsson (Christopher Heyerdahl). Feeling they aren’t taking them seriously, Lars looses it a little giving officials till morning to meet their demands. In the meantime Bianca is trying to keep it together.

Then the telephone calls from reporters begin and Bianca seems to side with Lars and Gunnar. When the Prime Minister catches wind of the interview he tries to convince the hostages that they are in danger. That’s when Lars gets the idea to make sure that everyone watching believes they are dangerous and Bianca goes along with it.

Now the officials are taking them serious and Bianca, Christopher and Klara are all for helping their kidnappers. It is the beginning of ‘Stockholm Syndrome’

Hawke as Nystrom just wanted a simple bank robbery and when it doesn’t turn out to be simple, he starts showing a human side to his captives. They begin to connect and this puts Chief Mattsson in a mode of trying to break up what is happening inside the bank. But who is crazier – the robbers or the law?

Hawke as Nystrom seems to have all the bad guy moves in place to rob a bank but when it all goes awry; he is the first to sort of panic it out. Never quite sure about his partner or what the crazy Chief of Police will do, it just adds enough frustration to bring out moments of brilliance. Back in action Hawke gives a complex performance that isn’t going to end well.

Strong as Sorensson is like a brother to Nystrom and with that comes brotherly agitation and a few well thrown punches. I love everything Strong does and this is a bit of a strange character that never lets the viewer truly know what is deal is. I’m okay with that!

Rapace as Bianca is a woman who had no idea her day would include wondering if her husband can make dinner while she’s busy being a hostage. Not feeling much in the way of fear, it is more like curiosity about the two men who have the authorities guessing from one minute to the next.

Heyerdahl as Chief Mattsson is, in my opinion, crazier than the crazy bank robbers. With every moment that goes by, he isn’t exactly sure what is going to happen. Trying to keep 

Nystrom and Sorensson calm, his frustration begins to show and it isn’t pretty.

Other cast include Thorbjorn Harr as Christopher Lind, Bea Santos as Klara Mardh, Mark Rendall as Elov Eriksson, John Ralston as Detective Jackobsson, Shanti Roney as Olof Palme, Ian Matthews as Detective Vinter, Vladimir Jon Culbrt as Davin and Christopher Wagelin as Vincent.

It is easy to see where the term ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ comes from watching this film. It is Nystrom that shows Bianca a human side with all the frailties and insecurities that come with him. Klara and Christopher follow suit when they realize that the police don’t seem to care if they survive the whole thing. Their tactics pretty much are in line to take everybody out.

It is Hawke and Rapace that keep the story going as they get to know one another and basically what makes them want to survive. Strong is the silent partner who has every reason in the world to be exactly that – silent!

The story is based on the 1973 bank robbery that was written about by Daniel Lang in an article called “The Bank Drama” for the New Yorker in 1974.

In the end – based on an absurd but true story!