Home

Home, Franka Potente’s (Run Lola Run, The Bourne films) directorial feature debut is a silent beauty. It begins with a series of tracking shots, setting precedent for the rest of the film’s cinematography and style. The moral is simple: it questions changes – whether or not one is the same as they once were before, and how time and trying can atone for crimes committed. It questions the line between what makes those who can’t forgive any better than those who have committed the act – whether a one-off killer deserves inhuman treatment. But it’s not just a journey to redemption. It asks of viewers, “Should criminals be allowed to have a new lease of life, regardless of what they’ve done?”

There are a lot of mundane and domestic moments. The quiet flow of events ebbs slowly, from one to the next, then, ever once in a while all of a sudden, there’s a disturbance. These are cold reminders to both the audience and the characters of the reality of Marvin’s situation: he takes care of his mother, quietly and peacefully, before he gets shunned and beaten up. This juxtaposition amplifies the impact of emotional sequences; viewers will be more inclined to sympathise with him, despite his crimes. It’s a slow feature, and not a lot happens, but somehow, time passes by.

Scene compositions are wide, focusing on quiet and simple backgrounds with only one or two subjects in frame. This creates a feeling of isolation and silence, alongside the persistent rhythm of the score. The pastel colour filter, lightly on the warmer side, creates a tone of sentimentality. There’s also a lot of symmetry in the production, highlighting contrasts between different characters, and the passage of time. This is especially prominent in Marvin and Wade’s reunion: sat across from each other, Marvin (who has been in prison) looks comparatively healthy to Wade, who is a free man.

However, plot and technical aspects aside, a lot of this picture’s success comes down to the performances from Kathy Bates and Jake McLaughlin (who play Bernadette and Marvin respectively). They truly are wonderful throughout. McLaughlin embodies his character – a perfect balance of rough-around-the-edges, with a softness that draws the viewers in. The mother-and-son chemistry with Bates is subtle, which works perfectly with the film’s tone and atmosphere. It’s the top-tier acting that really catches hearts and leaves viewers enamoured.

Mae Trumata

Home is released digitally on demand on 24^th January 2022.

Watch the trailer for Home here: