The right to die
LULLABY: FILM SPARKS CONVERSATION
Honest plot, but overdirected.
With euthanasia currently in the news, this film may come at a very opportune time. Whether you are for or against helping somebody to die, Lullaby might start new conversations and debates about the pros and cons of this issue. But the film also addresses the dilemma of young victims suffering from cancer, and how getting in touch with death influences a young man (Hedlund) without direction.
Of course by confronting these challenges, it helps him to grow up and accept responsibility. In this way, he is forced to appreciate life, but he must also learn to allow those closest to him to make their own decisions and accept responsibility for their actions. So the message is loud and clear, while the intention of its writer and director, Andrew Levitas, is honest and commendable. But the problem lies in overkill. In a director not trusting the story enough and often forcing the issue, so it eventually deteriorates into sentimentality and melodrama.
“Destroy your darlings” might have been an appropriate criticism for Levitas while he directed his own script, especially during scenes where characters die. Audiences are often swept up in these tragic scenes by getting a lump in their throats and giving themselves over to the emotions evoked by the film. But it only works up to a point. Then tragic feelings start spilling over into melodrama as the icing is laid on too thick. And that is unfortunately what happens here. A heart-warming story is damaged by too much sentiment and the manipulation of tears, therefore weakening its impact.
The film tells the story of a young drifter, well-played by Garrett Hedlund, who receives news his estranged father, (Richard Jenkins) is suffering from cancer and wants to take himself off life-support. It is his decision and
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Lullaby
Cast: Garrett Hedlund, Richard Jenkins and Anne Archer Director: Andrew Levitas Classification: 16L obviously not all the family members agree.
There is the tearful mother (Anne Archer, in an overstated performance in which she seems to be in a p perpetual state of facial cial convulsion)convul who supports her husband,husb and a seemingly ly heartlesshea sister (Jessica BrownBrow Findlay) who opposes pos her dad’s decision. TheTh young man finds h himself in the middle o of this crisis and his life is made unbearable when he meets a y young cancer patient ( (Jessica Barden).
So much death and su suffering in the life of a man who has, up to now, refus refused to take any responsibility sibility for another human being, turn turns into a personalcrito sis that eventually involves the entire family. Add to this his estranged girlfriend (a wasted Amy Adams) who seems to be the right woman for him if only he would notice her, and the emotional make-up starts running under these bright spotlights.
Some readers might be rightfully moved to tears by this film. It is almost impossible not to cry, as the director milks the emotion from every scene involving the father and the young cancer sufferer. These scenes are somewhat overdirected.
So it eventually becomes a bit too much, as one’s emotions reach saturation point and tears eventually make place for nervous glances at your watch.