Babel (15)

What’s it about?
A heart wrenching tale of four families whose lives are suddenly intertwined by a rifle. A bullet fired irresponsibly by a young boy unleashes a tragic chain of events that has a significant impact on all of their lives.

Highs n lows
Although a great idea and meticulously crafted, for me this was a very slow storyline that never really got going. The story is told in vignettes, starting from the present looping back through the past and finishing where you started. The script very cleverly and minutely links four families from very different walks of life: a Moroccan goat herd, an illegal immigrant to the USA, a Japanese businessman and an American couple. But to my mind it could have been cut by a good half hour, which would have sped up the action without losing any of the detail vital to the plot.

Unsurprisingly, having been filmed on location in Mexico Morocco, the US and Tokyo, it has a very authentic feel with extremely well-rounded characters that you can largely empathise with. Add to this impressive performances by Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett as the American couple Richard and Susan, whose relationship is shown in brief but telling scenes, dissolving from brittle animosity to touching and achingly close shots that grab you by the gut, in one of the most believable performances I’ve seen since Forest Whitaker’s portrayal of Idi Amin. Mix in the realism of a couple of non professional locals as the two Moroccan brothers and the determined and loving portrayal of Mexican nanny Amelia, played by Adriana Barraza, and you have a telling multicultural cocktail that makes a strong statement about the irresponsible use of guns, and the impact of the excesses of the US authorities. The only down side was the over long scenes involving the deaf mute Japanese girl (did someone got carried away with the cinematography there ??)

One quick health warning, I wouldn’t watch this if you’re feeling down, it’s likely to make you feel worse.

Is it any good?
3 out of 5. Note: some nudity. 2006 Golden Globe Awards Best Motion Picture - Drama