Search - Lorna's Silence on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 10/21/2023...

Pretty annoying reading subtitles with the language in French.

Still above most other movies produced these days

Un francais en angleterre | Londres, UK | 11/24/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Dardennes brother have made better movies (most notably Rosetta), but also think that it's a movie well worth watching. The acting is extremely good and the direction manages to be both strong and subtle. They've managed to make the movie primarily through the point of view of the main character, while keeping a kind of distance at the same time. (it's probably a bit confusing as an explanation, but it's so unusual in a way that you'd probably have to see the movie to get my point). As to whether you'll enjoy it or not, you'd rather be the type of person who enjoys the journey at least as much as the destination, or you'll likely be disappointed"

Immigration Issues: Money/Crime/Commitment/Love

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 04/05/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"LORNA'S SILENCE is a film that very quietly grabs you by the throat and makes you pay attention to the stories of several emigrants that spin out of control. It is written and directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne with an eye for verismo in the seamier side of the immigration problems.

The story is set in Belgium where Lorna (Arta Dobroshi) works at a dry cleaners then goes home to her 'husband' Claudy (Jérémie Renier), a junkie who has been duped by Lorna and her little crime gang of cab driver Fabio (Fabrizio Rongione) and her boyfriend Sokol (Alban Ukaj)into marrying Lorna so that the Albanian girl can gain Belgian citizenship. Claudy seems a hopeless case, in withdrawal for the umpteenth time but committed to getting off heroin. He pleads with his 'arranged wife' to help him with his attempt to get clean. Meanwhile Fabio has other plans: Lorna is to 'marry' a wealthy Russian mobster to gain Belgian citizenship (a second arranged marriage) and in order for the second marriage to occur, Lorna must consent to letting Claudy overdose on heroin and die, making her a widow eligible for marriage. The other side story is that Lorna, now a Belgian citizen, can proceed with Sokol to set up a snack shop with Sokol using all the money she gains from the 'marriage game'.

All is well until Claudy convinces Lorna to help him get to a hospital and get 'clean' and along the way Lorna's feelings for Claudy turn to compassion and passion. An incident occurs that throws all of the plans to the wind and Lorna is left with her secret and will hopefully manage to find a stable life without the crime influence.

The acting is first rate and the moody atmosphere created is spellbinding. This is a little film that has a lot to say about the plight of immigrants. Grady Harp, April 10

"

Marriage by convenience!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 05/03/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"
The introduction is direct. Lorna is married with an addict, as part of a contract. She is trying the Belgium citizenship and finally she gets it. But as part of this money chain, he has to get marry with a Russian citizen, but as widow not as divorced.

She will obtain 5000 euros for this simulated wedding. But when all the plans have been made (including the weird death of his first husband) a sudden factor irrupts : she is pregnant. That fact will lead the story to unsuspected consequences.

Nevertheless, the film is too slow. There was much intersections all the way along to explore and definitively were overlooked and dismissed. The dramatic tension is attenuated due precisely the slowness of the narrative pulse.

A solid script that could be enhanced.
"