Retro Film Review: Birth (2004)
"People don't know a good thing when they have it" is a proverb often applied by those familiar with the way the public reacted to certain films. One such event took place at 2004 Venice Film Festival when the audience booed Birth, a drama directed by Jonathan Glazer. The apparent reason for this was a scene that allegedly challenged the neo-puritanical standards of modern American cinema by depicting an adult and pre-pubescent character in a bath together. Sensationalist media were quick to label the film as "controversial" and added the word "paedophilia" to any article about it. This is a shame because Birth deserves to be discussed for entirely different reasons.
The plot commences with the death of a New York physician (played by Michael Desaultes). Ten years later, his grief-stricken widow Anna (portrayed by Nicole Kidman) has decided to marry her long-time suitor Joseph (played by Danny Huston). However, one day, a 10-year-old boy named Sean (portrayed by Cameron Bright) arrives at her apartment, claiming to be her reincarnated husband. Initially amused, Anna and her friends and relatives become annoyed as Sean persists with his fantastical story, revealing details known only to Anna's late husband. Gradually, Anna begins to shed her scepticism and believes that Sean has indeed been reincarnated.
*Birth? embodies both the best and worst aspects associated with the term "art film." Fortunately, the former outweigh the latter, a surprise considering Jonathan Glazer's previous film - the confusing and overrated gangster drama Sexy Beast. This time, Glazer opts for a completely different story, plot, setting, characters, and style.
The film opens with long shots of New York's Central Park in winter, accompanied by Alexandre Desplat's music score, hinting at a stylish and atmospheric film rarely seen in mainstream Hollywood productions. Most characters belong to New York's social elite, and the narrative unfolds in a minimalist, almost cold manner. It requires skill for authors to evoke empathy for characters in such a story. Glazer, who co-wrote the script with Jean-Claude Carriere and Milo Addica, achieves this to some extent, bolstered by an excellent cast. Nicole Kidman delivers an outstanding performance reminiscent of Mia Farrow's character in Rosemary's Baby,conveying conflicting emotions with minimal dialogue. Young Cameron Bright effectively carries the film on his shoulders, exuding ambiguity in his character and the overall story convincingly.
However, the most compelling aspect of Birth lies in its script. The handling of the reincarnation subplot diverges from mainstream Hollywood norms - approached with seriousness and avoiding insulting viewers' intelligence even when delving into occasional implausibilities. Characters react to this extraordinary situation realistically and sceptically as mature individuals would. While some may critique the convenient plot device leading to an overtly melodramatic conclusion and perceive ambiguity at the end as over-pretentious, "Birth" still merits commendation as a well-crafted and intelligent drama free from contemporary Hollywood clichés.
RATING: 7/10 (+++)
(Note: Original version of the review is available here.)
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