‘ADORATION’ AN INTRIGUING HUMAN MOSAIC
By: Anita Katz
San Francisco Examiner
doration-an-intriguing-human-mosaic-45048077.html
May 15 2009
Complex issues: From left, Scott Speedman, Arsinée Khanjian and
Devon Bostick appear in "Adoration," a personal and political
drama. (Courtesy Photo)
Atom Egoyan probably never met a story he didn’t deem fit for
the jigsaw, and his films often play like remixes of familiar
themes on his comedy-scarce palette — among them trauma, loss,
abandonment, international terror, devastating lies, alienation in
a technology-connected world, and horrible accidents.
But he delivers so many interesting ideas and presents them so uniquely
that even when off target, he’s a reason to go to the movies.
"Adoration," the Canadian-Armenian writer-director’s latest journey
through the aftershocks, affirms that distinction.
Echoing Egoyan’s acclaimed "The Sweet Hereafter" and underrated
"Ararat" with its combination of private and global horror, the
Toronto-set drama centers on a car crash that killed violinist Rachel
(Rachel Blanchard) and violin maker Sami (Noam Jenkins) years ago.
The two had a son, Simon (Devon Bostick), who now is a teen and lives
with his uncle (Scott Speedman).
Having grown up around a venomously bigoted grandfather (Kenneth
Welsh), who constantly slurred the Middle Eastern Sami, Simon wonders
if his father intentionally caused the "accident."
This fear takes center stage when French-language teacher Sabine
(Arsinée Khanjian) assigns students to translate a news story about
a Jordanian who unsuccessfully tried to blow up an Israel-bound plane
by placing a bomb in the carry-on bag of his unaware pregnant fiancée.
Simon reimagines the story as that of his parents: Sami becomes the
terrorist, Rachel the fiancée, and Simon himself the unborn son.
Simon takes his fiction to an online chat site, presents it as
fact, and receives feedback from a medley of people who buy his
deception. Navigating a bog of conflicting perceptions, Simon journeys
toward the truth, and others reveal secrets that allow a full picture
to emerge.
Egoyan isn’t the silkiest filmmaker, and compared to his above-cited
fare, this is shallow stuff. The nonlinear storytelling adds nothing.
As in many of Egoyan’s films, the themes sometimes upstage the
story. Sabine’s actions get too bizarre for credibility. The religious
symbolism is excessive.
Yet as Egoyan delivers everything from victimhood to a violin subplot
to a malignant deathbed statement, the pieces cohere into a vital
mosaic of human hurt and need.
The film also succeeds as a stirring look at how nearly impossible
it is to uncover truth in, of all things, an "information age."
Among the cast, Speedman stands out as the overwhelmed uncle.
Khanjian, who has a face that seems made for the art-house closeup,
goes intriguing places with her problematic character.
MOVIE REVIEW
Adoration 3 Stars Starring Devon Bostick, Arsinee Khanjian, Scott
Speedman, Rachel Blanchard Written and directed by Atom Egoyan Rated:
R Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes