Culture

Rating: 4.5/5

The most memorable films are those that emotionally sap you dry; those that force you to become immersed in their worlds because the subject matter, images and storylines are so powerful you cannot escape till you actually leave the cinema. Child’s Pose puts you through so much heartrending turmoil that you feel almost bruised by the end.

The film is not violent, but rubs your mind raw with its vivid narrative. Directed by Călin Peter Netzer, this Romanian film picked up the Golden Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival 2013 and was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival 2013. No surprises there: it is one of the most unforgettable films of late.

Child’s Pose follows Cornelia (Luminita Gheorghiu), a wealthy older Romanian woman who closely resembles the hardened, aristocratic Lucille Bluth from Arrested Development. Her son is involved in a car accident in which he kills a child who ran onto the highway as he was passing a car. Following the proceedings after the death, the film immerses us in the family’s trauma and the slow crumbling of their relationships with one another. We see Cornelia as a woman who will do anything for her family, even for a son who no longer holds much love for her. The complications of class are also dealt with, as the dead child comes from a very poor background.

Peppered with insights into Romanian society, it becomes clear that this is a culture in which family bonds are incredibly important. The ending is so abrupt that you are broken away from the linear narrative, which makes the film very unique.

This is a film that deals with subject matter that is almost taboo, and I would certainly recommend it. You can feel the edgy rawness of various relationships, which leaves you begging for more, and while the lack of resolution at the end may throw some people off, it is, in some ways, fresh. It gives the viewer a chance to reflect on what was just viewed, and a chance to create their own ending to a memorable masterpiece.