Room
A couple of years ago, I picked up a copy of Emma Donoghue’s novel Room. Like most who have read the extraordinary tale, I finished it within a matter of days, finding it virtually impossible to put down. The story is narrated by a young boy named Jack whose entire universe exists within the confines of one tiny room. Living with his mother (who he calls “Ma”), his only external stimulation comes in the form of the few television programs they watch. For reasons unknown, his mother tells him that everything on television is just pretend, and that Room is the only true thing that exists in the entire world.
Throughout the entirety of the novel, I kept thinking to myself, “There is no way that they would be able to make a movie out of this.” This, in large part, was due to the circumstances surrounding Jack’s isolation. There are clues scattered throughout, but the true revelation isn’t made until about the halfway point. In addition, I found it unlikely that any child actor would possess the ability to effectively capture the essence of Jack as he existed on the page.
It is with great relief and admiration that I can proclaim that director Lenny Abrahamson’s vision, paired with Donoghue’s screenplay, brings three-dimensional life to this captivating story. From the opening sequence and beyond, it is baffling to see the tiny room that serves as a home for two people. With virtually no space for movement or actions, mother and son pass their days reading, watching television, and exercising. There is a sequence early on in which a clothes line hangs from one wall to the other, and this, perhaps more than other visual, conveys the claustrophobic smallness of the space. The only other person who ever comes to visit, is a man known as “Old Nick.” His visits are short, and whenever he arrives, Jack is forced to hide inside a tiny wardrobe and must remain completely silent.
Despite these dismal conditions, Jack (Jacob Tremblay) lives his life like any other child. He finds comfort and protection in Room, and considers things like Chair, Egg-Shell Snake, and Wardrobe his friends. Unaware of an outside world, he is content to spend every day like the one that proceeded it. His mother (Brie Larson0, however, is not. Realizing that the time has come for her to leave the room, she formulates a plan in which Jack will serve as a tool of salvation, and is the only one who can possibly procure the help that they so desperately need. This impossible task is made even more difficult by the fact that Jack has spent his entire life thinking that there was no such thing as the outside world.
ROOM (which earned Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay) is a unique, engrossing character study that revolves around two compelling characters. The circumstances that lead to Ma’s imprisonment aren’t revealed until later in the film, but it obvious very early on that she is an unwilling participant in her current living arrangements. Despite the bleak outlook on the future, she raises Jack (who was born in Room) to the best of her abilities. What seems grotesque and impossible for the viewer to comprehend is perfectly normal the child, as it serves as the only existence that he has ever known. To her credit, Ma provides him with an endless supply of stability and love, which are the most important contributions any parent can provide to their children.
Larson, who has already won a Golden Globe for her turn in ROOM, gives one of the best performances by any actress this year. Surviving an onslaught of insurmountable odds, she remains strong in Room even when it seems as if it would be impossible to do so. In the second half of the film, when mother and son finally find themselves in the outside world, Ma has a far more difficult time coping with the change than her resilient son. Everything she encounters is a reminder of the time that she has lost, and the newfound pressures placed upon her almost become too burdensome to bear. Larson projects these emotions with vivid and heart-wrenching vividness. Her plight is unimaginable, yet she crafted a life for her child that could be considered better than most.
As magnificent as Larson was, the same amount of accolades and praise should rain down upon young Jacob Tremblay. Jack is the glue that holds the entire story together, and Tremblay effectively found a way to capture the wide-eyed wonder and fragility of Donoghue’s complex character. He is blissfully unaware that he has been confined to cage, and seems bright, funny, and full of life. When his entire world is turned upside down, he is forced to make adjustments that would be daunting for anyone, let alone a child. Jack faces these challenges head-on, and I am still astounded and that such a young performer was able to tackle this role with such flawless precision.
Though ROOM may not display the same type of fireworks as some of its Oscar-contending counterparts such as THE REVENANT and MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, it finds a way to have the same profound and lasting effect on its viewers, and deserves every ounce of the considerable praise that has been bestowed upon it.
ROOM-A
A special thanks goes to Regal Cinemas at Destiny USA for allowing me to attend this month’s films.
