BIRTH
US, 2004, 100 minutes, Colour.
Nicole Kidman, Cameron Bright, Lauren Bacall, Danny Huston, Arliss Howard, Anne Heche, Alison Elliott, Cara Seymour, Ted Levine.
Directed by Jonathan Glazer.
Birth seems a very strange film. In fact, many people would call it silly. However, it has very good credentials. The screenplay was co-written by Bunuel’s collaborater, Jean- Claude Carriere, with the director, Jonathan Glazer. Glazer had made a big impression with his brief and somewhat brutal British gangster thriller, Sexy Beast, with Ray Winston and Ben Kingsley in an Oscar-nominated performance.
Birth is a New York story. It begins with a death and transfers to a birth. For those who believe in reincarnation, it seems to be a rebirth. The difficulty is that the man who died was a middle-aged jogger. He is reincarnated in a young boy who, at ten years old, claims that he is the long-dead husband of widow, Nicole Kidman.
It depends on one’s point of view whether the film is metaphysical or religious or simply psychological. From a metaphysical point of view, the plot seems impossible. From a reincarnational point of view, this kind of plot could even be plausible. From a psychological point of view, it offers a great number of difficulties. How does the boy have all the information – and how does he persuade the widow that he is genuine? Ultimately, the plot seems to be resolved on a psychological level.
Jonathan Glazer has a distinctive visual style, and he is in no hurry. The opening jogging credits sequence seems rather too long for its dramatic value. At other times, the camera stops and contemplates different characters. There is a striking scene as Nicole Kidman listens to an orchestra in concert and the camera seems to remain on her striking face for at least a minute.
The film has strong acting which carries it along in some way. Nicole Kidman, sporting a very brief, effectively different hairstyle, is the widow who becomes absorbed in the claims of the boy. This might seem impossible. However, she is caught up in the memories of her husband and so follows through investigating and believing the child. He is played by Cameron Bright who appeared in Godsend and in The Butterfly Effect (here rather more impassive and blank. In the other films rather sinister). Danny Huston plays Nicole’s fiance. Lauren Bacall is her mother – and Lauren Bacall has the most sardonic, realistic and down-to-earth lines in the whole film.
The supporting cast is interesting, Peter Stormare as the dead man’s best friend, Anne Heche as Stormare’s wife with a secret of her own.
The film is stylishly made – but the topic itself, even with reference to the title of the film, makes one wonder.
1.The impact of the film, as entertainment, as reflection on life? Realism? Fantasy? The philosophical background, religious background? The emotional response to the situation?
2.The title, the film beginning with a death, the transition to birth, the baby? Rebirth?
3.The visual style of the film, the long takes, the introduction to contemplative response? The long initial jogging sequence? The focus on faces, especially Anna at the concert? The importance of the musical score, its range and variety, the piano themes, the drum themes, the use of classical music? The variations on “Happy Birthday” and the Wedding March?
4.The introduction to Sean, his voice-over comments, the rationalisation about death, life, reincarnation – especially in a bird? Believe it or not – or want to believe it? Indicating the themes of the film?
5.The long sequence of Sean jogging, dying? The transition to the birth? The transition to ten years later?
6.Anna, her relation to Joseph, his speech, her hesitations to say yes to the proposal? The announcement? The party, Anna and Joseph and their joy? Clifford and Clara arriving, Clara delaying, going down, to the park, burying the tin? Clifford as the best man, his friendship with Anna?
7.Sean, the boy in the lobby, following Clara and seeing what she did? With Jimmy in the vestibule – and even taking over when Jimmy was away? In the hallway, entering the apartment with the guests, his announcement at the dinner table, wanting to speak to Anna in private, his communication, its effect on her?
8.Anna as a person, Nicole Kidman’s screen presence, different appearance? Friendship with Joseph, mourning Sean over the ten years, getting over him? Her work? Her relationship with her mother, her sister? The birthday party? Hearing Sean speak, the effect, the disbelief? His sending the note, her reading it at work? The clashes with Joseph? The visit to the father, with Sean, his father telling him not to behave like this, his collapse? Anna’s maternal instincts, wanting to believe that it was Sean? The agreement to the questions, Bob and the interrogation? Anna and her growing care for Sean, talking with him, his coming into the apartment, coming into the bath? The effect on Anna, Clifford and her asking him for help, his saying that it was not Sean? Her mother’s sardonic remarks? Anna and the effect on her psyche, love, belief? The final bath sequence, his telling her the truth? Her return to Joseph, saying she was not to blame, she couldn't do anything else, asking his forgiveness?
9.Sean, his age, presence, impassive? His determination? His visits, the note, following Anna, a kind of stalking? His meeting Clara, her telling him that he was not Sean, writing the address, his going to visit her, the truth about Sean’s relationship with Clara, the burying of the letters, the explanation of the letters, Sean’s infidelity? His climbing the tree, running away from the police? In the bath, admitting the truth?
10.Anna’s family, the birthday party, the gathering, the questions to Sean, their sitting listening to him, her mother and her comments, scepticism? Laura and the tension because of her pregnancy, Bob and the questions – and seeing Anna kiss Sean in the street?
11.The maid, down to earth, her reaction?
12.Mrs Hill, the visit, her questions, Sean not knowing her?
13.Clifford, his friendship, trying to support Anna? Clara, married to Clifford, the past affair with Sean, her anger at his not leaving Anna? The letters as a gift from Sean, her reading them, burying them, intending to give them to Anna but not?
14.Sean and his parents, their separation, the father as tutor, the mother and her concern?
15.The end, all children getting photographed – and Sean getting photographed as normal? The letter, the explanation that all was well with him?
16.The wedding, the photographer, Anna upset, her rushing to the sea, Danny saving her, walking along the beach? The effect of the whole experience on her?
17.The effect of a stalker, the effect on the victim, the psychic damage to the victim?
