LUCE

US, 2019, 109 minutes, Colour.
Kelvin Harrison Jr, Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, Tim Roth, Norbert Leo Butz, Marsha Stephanie Blake.
Directed by Julius Onah.

Luce is an unexpected film. It is the story of an now-teenager who grew up in war-torn Eritrea, a child soldier, adopted by an American couple and brought to the United States where he excels in sports, in studies, in debates. He seems to be an ideal young man in a loving family and benefiting from American education. He states he is fully committed to the United States.

Kelvin Harrison Jr gives a very sympathetic performance as Luce – which makes the ambiguity of the ending even more ambiguous and disturbing. Harrison was a lead in Waves and also appeared in Dark Waters.

Naomi Watts and Tim Roth are the parents, she idealistic, the couple deciding not to have their own children, he fascinated by children and obviously wanting children of his own. They are placed in very difficult circumstances when one of Luce’s significant teachers, Octavia Spencer, reports odd and bad behaviour. The drama traces their sympathies, their suspicions, their arguments, their confrontations.

For the most part of the film, Luce is a very genial and conscientious character, good at his running, making student speeches, practising his debating techniques. But then, there is the issue of a young student, his relationship with her, his mother contacting her, the teacher also confronting her. Then, the teacher becomes a victim, being bad-mouthed, her trying to deal with her mentally disturbed sister, her house then painted with graffiti.

Which means then that the audience is challenged to ask about Luce and to see whether he is the ideal young American man or whether he is a pathological liar.

1. The title? The focus on Luce? The performance? His background in Eritrea, a child soldier and the violence? His adoption by Amy and Peter? The effect? The need for therapy? At school, his skill in running, in the debates, his speech? Success, charm, his prospects?

2. The town, the school, homes, the countryside and running? The American town? The musical score?

3. Luce and his initial impression, his speech? The doubts? Miss Wilson, the evidence, his locker, the fireworks, his writing the essay taking on the character of the subversive and violent speaker? Miss Wilson calling his mother, the talk, her hiding the fireworks and the essay? The discussions with Peter? Indications of Miss Wilson as a bitch? Luce’s charm, strength? His friend, Miss Wilson responsible for finding the drugs, expelling him, losing his scholarship? Issues of anger? Kim, her behaviour at the party, her being cold to Luce and vice versa?

4. Miss Wilson, teaching, African- American, knowledge of history? At home, her constant care for her sister, Rose’s behaviour, erratic, at the supermarket and the encounter with Luce? Setting the essay, her disappointment with Luce? Summoning Amy? The parents going to the principal, her credibility? The issue of her stereotyping people and setting of expectations? Downsizing them?

5. Amy and Peter, no children of their own, Peter and his love and seen with babies? The decision for adoption? The choice of Luce, change of name, their love for him, their self-sacrifice? Is Therapy? Meeting Miss Wilson, believing her are not? Reading the essay? Suspicions of Luce? The arguments between the parents, their stances? The rational response, the emotional response, the response of the school principal?

6. Luce at home, devoted, domestic life? His enthusiasm in going to the US? His speech, preparing and rehearsing his personal speech? His leaving early for running and debate work?

7. Kim, her story, with Miss Wilson and Miss Wilson’s accusations? Amy going to talk with her? The texts about her? Her informing Luce? Miss Wilson and Kim, the humiliation, getting the confession, Miss Wilson wanting to use it against Luce?

8. Luce, the paper, the intentions and themes, in theory, in action?

9. Amy, following Luce, observing the sexual encounter with Amy? Luce and his story?

10. His practising his speech, giving the speech, the acclaim?

11. The Internet with Rose, at school, her stripping, mad behaviour, everyone taking photos? The response of the principal? Miss Wilson on leave? The graffiti and her house? Her assuming that it was Luce or his friends?

12. Luce coming with the flowers, Miss Wilson rejecting him?

13. The successfully speech? The bonding with his parents?

14. The audience left with the question whether he was a charming hero or a pathological liar?