Una, written by David
Harrower, based on his play Blackbird
What a strange work!
Let me be clear: I do not think I understand
what was going on in this film and what exactly the ensemble wanted to convey.
It may be one of those cases where this is actually
an invitation to think and the artwork depends on the viewer…
It has been said that the onlooker is often,
maybe always more important than the object of art itself
So if I dismiss this and say, well this is about
a much older person who took advantage of a minor and his punishment, it could
be a mistake.
Or not…
This film has some major attributes.
One of them is the actor in the leading role:
Ben Mendelsohn aka Ray
His work is outstanding, at least in two major productions
that gave the public an idea of what this artist can do:
The phenomenal Animal Kingdom and more
recently, the fabulous
Killing Them Softly
Having stated my admiration for the leading
actor, I now must say that his contribution was nearly annulled by the other
protagonist:
Rooney Mara
This artiste has a way of making me want to
change the channel, even when she is in the company of big names.
Take Carol:
Even if the story was interesting, worthwhile
and provoking, Rooney Mara has almost eliminated any pleasure.
It is also true that Cate Blanchet does not
have the same appeal for this viewer as she used to possess.
Rooney Mara gives me the impression that she is
over reaching; there is a sense of artificiality in her performance.
It is very likely that I am wrong and the parts
require a certain awkwardness and what I call over the top is actually perfect
planning.
Nevertheless, Una would have benefited from the
presence of Eva Green or Kelly Reilly in my opinion.
Una comes to face Ray, many years after – I do
not know how to describe this, the first impulse was to say-they have had an
affair.
Una was very young, under age at the time and
as aforementioned, it would be easy to dismiss this as an abuse.
Which in many ways it is, perhaps this is the
main problem of this motion picture that it tries to complicate what seems so
simple.
We have a much older man involved with a
teenage girl and even if the latter thinks she loves him, it is a no go.
To try and analyze, tell the story could be liberal
and open minded, but is it really the right thing to do?
Perhaps…
A comedian in disrepute-, which may highlight
the problem of treating too lightly a serious, moral and life issue-, was
talking about the need to understand and engage with a child kidnapper, if only
to get to save the children involved.
In other words, Una may serve as a case study
of what happens when a minor thinks she or he loves and older man.
Of course, it is much more complicated than
that, for the film takes place more in the moment when the protagonists are
adults and they look at this past, but I see the premise as paramount.
In many ways, it reminded me of Jagten aka The
Hunt, wherein a much smaller child accuses a man of inappropriate behavior,
almost ruining the life of an innocent person by just inventing a story.
Nevertheless, Jagten was in a completely
different league, with a different take and a more meaningful subject.
