How valuable is it to not just find a friend who has your back...but also be able to spend time both working...and not?
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(Hopefully by this point you’ve finished all 110 minutes of 'A Private War’, the kind of person who isn’t bothered by spoilers, or are just deciding if you still want to keep watching.)
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I had no idea what I was expecting. Maybe I was influenced by memories of ‘Hotel Rwanda‘ or maybe the look of the poster for the film: Marie about to be driven to safety (I’m just guessing was before they arrived at Homs) with an automatic rifle in the foreground.
Was I expecting Rosamund Pike to be some sort of a freedom fighter? Again...I was going at this film ‘cold’...without knowing specifically what the story the film would focus on. I had a bit of an idea when Rosamund and Jamie popped in an episode of ‘The Graham Norton Show’
..It might be because of the tone of the Film....but it had successfully made me on edge every minute. There was the thread of the MA stuff ....there's also the flash backs...and flash forwards.
None of that matters though...because...it’s a masterpiece. At 40:55 Paul tells Marie that the reason she keeps returning to war zones is because there is an addiction to it. But then later.... during her conversation with Sean...we find out that it might not be the case.
What I'm not crazy about: The nudity.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
(22:27) - Marie mentioning that she's an aid worker and using her gym card as proof.
(37:50) - Marie clearing up to Paul what the photo is
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INT. TREATMENT CENTRE (PRIVATE ROOM) - DAY
MARIE is standing next to the window, smoking, while looking out at the grounds below. Other patients walk around.
PAUL (OS) Thanks for letting me come and visit.
He walks around and surveys the content of the room. A white board with a schedule of activities, a painting of a wintry scene, and a TV.
He looks at her...trying to find how to start things.
PAUL If you're not ------- crazy when you come into a place like this, you definitely will be if you get out.
MARIE turns to him for a moment then continues to work on her cigarette. The black eye-patch is present.
A group of photos catches PAUL's eye. He picks up one of the frames.
PAUL So, is this where you grow up?
He shows her the photo.
MARIE turns and nods.
MARIE Mmm. Yeah, that's the north shore of Long Island. Oyster Bay.
She turns to the window and takes another drag.
PAUL nods and looks at the other photos.
MARIE Not the ritzy part.
He picks up another one and shows it. It's a dark haired man (40's) with a mustache wearing a suit and tie.
PAUL Who's this?
He studies it.
PAUL Your boyfriend?
MARIE turns and looks at the photo.
MARIE No, that's creepy. That's my dad.
PAUL Oh.
He sets the photo down.
PAUL Sorry.
Picking one of the armchairs, he sits and turns to her.
PAUL Marie...
She makes her way to the opposite one...
PAUL ...when bad ---- happens, your brain goes into shock.
...and sits.
PAUL It, it locks the trauma in the same place you process emotions, which isn't where memories are meant to live.
Another inhale of the cigarette.
PAUL That's why it feels so present.
MARIE Is that why you left the army?
She looks at him with her tired eyes.
PAUL No. I was court-martialed. Planted some hasish in my locket to get out.
He smiles and laughs.
MARIE leans back and crosses her arms.
MARIE How long did it take you to get better?
PAUL A long bloody time.
They share a moment. Nodding. It's the reality they have to both embrace.
PAUL Marie, you've seen more war than most soldiers. You have to take it seriously.
She nods mechanically and takes a sharp breath.
MARIE You want psycho babble?
PAUL shrugs.
MARIE All right, I'll give it to you, I...
She points to the photo.
MARIE ...really looked up to my father. I was tormented when he died. Because he never understood the fact that I might have opinions of my own.
PAUL pops a cigarette in his mouth and moves to light it.
MARIE I love my mother, but I struggle with her because I can never be the suburban housewife in the safe ------- life.
PAUL takes a drag.
MARIE I diet fiercely because I don't wanna get fat, but I also have seen so many people in the world go hungry so I...I like to eat.
She gives him a weak smile.
MARIE I um....I wanna be a mom, like my sister, but I've had two miscarriages and I have to accept the fact that I might never be that.
She tries to keep the tears at bay.
MARIE I fear growing old.
No success as one escapes. A finger picks it up.
MARIE But then I also fear dying young.
A beat. The problem with sharing...is that...usually...it's a flood.
MARIE I'm most happy with a vodka Martini in my hand, but I can't...
She tries to find the right words.
MARIE ...stand the fact that the chatter in my head won't go quiet until there's a quart of vodka inside me.
She looks at him earnestly.
MARIE I hate being in a war zone. But I also feel compelled, compelled to see it for myself.
Paul nods.
PAUL Because you're addicted to it.
Is she? Maybe. No sense in debating it if the evidence points to that conclusion.
MARIE chuckles and takes another drag.
She shakes her head...trying to hold back emotion...but it's out now...flowing. Leaning forward and opening up her arms...she accepts the deep hug.
They stand holding each other. PAUL soothes her.
PAUL You're all right.
MARIE weeps.
PAUL Hey. Hey. You're all right.
MARIE lets go of him and they sit back down.
She chuckles.
MARIE Sorry.
Another drag.
PAUL It's all right.
MARIE Mmm. Mmm.
PAUL It's allowed.
MARIE laughs and takes another drag. She studies the picture of her father.
MARIE Who did you say my father looked like?
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My verdict of the film: 9/10
Link to the timestamp commentary: TBA