- Sensibility: The relationships in this film are so well-written and the characters are so thoroughly designed that there is little room for confusion in anything that takes place, even in translation.
- Cinematography: Every shot in this film is layered with meaning. There are so many moments that are visual spectacles as well as story telling devices. A sequence of mirror shots is unbelievably beautiful, clearly convey the narrative, and provide an extra layer of intensity to the scene's activities. The close ups and conversations are so well edited and paired musically that every moment has major significance. Production design is also excellent and plays a crucial role in the film.
- Energy: The film is deliberately slow in a few places, but it makes the film more impactful and builds the meaning of the ending. Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård put on lifetime performances in lives with many such performances and the music choices are unique and brilliantly pair with the film's emotional roller-coaster.
- Narrative: This is one of the few stories I can say is genuinely perfect. Every look and dialogue exchange is master fully written and communicates more than what is written on the page. The interplay of theater work and life are brilliant metaphors for telling literal changes in the narrative, and the house itself is like a character in the film.
- T-Points: The film received five bonus points: one for an inappropriate gift from grandpa for his 9-year old grandson, one for a tense post-dinner conversation between father and daughters, one for an incredible moment where a daughter reads a monologue from her father's script for the first time, one for a shot of two sisters sitting at the foot of the bed, and one for a brutal oner end sequence described earlier in the film.
There are so many brilliant moments in the film that I would give a bonus point to if I could: an opening poem about the house; the anxious backstage antics; Renate Reinsve's, Stellan Skarsgård's, Elle Fanning's, and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas's performances; and a heart-wrenching set of looks between father and daughter in the ending.
Film of the year for me in a year with so many great films. The first time I watched it I cried so hard that my shirt was wet by the end. It took two more viewings for me to be able to see the end with clear eyes unblocked by tears.
Number of Watches: 3
