REVIEW: ‘Room’ deserves to be an Oscar contender

DIRECTED by Lenny Abrahamson, ‘Room’ is the gripping story of the abduction of a teenage girl, held captive for seven years, told from the perspective of her five-year-old son, Jack.

The film is based on Emma Donoghue’s novel, which was inspired by the story of the Fritzl case in Austria. The work of Abrahamson and Donoghue gel together beautifully in the film with his portrayal of her haunting novel.

Ma (Brie Larson) manages to create a whole world for Jack in the film, convincing him that ‘room’ is all there is; outside the room is just space.

While the movie itself is somewhat dark and disturbing, the character of Jack brings a kind of hope that only the innocence of childhood can. Jacob Tremblay plays Jack beautifully and the bond between mother and son is extremely convincing.

Larson and Tremblay have an undeniable chemistry throughout the film, enhancing the empathy felt towards the pair as Ma battles for their freedom to give Jack a normal childhood.

The film ties in motherhood, childhood, the trauma of a kidnapping and the power of maternal love, forcing Ma to make rash, dangerous decisions to protect Jack.

In the first half of the movie we spend our time in ‘room’. It peaks about half way through when Ma and Jack plan their escape and are free. Throughout the second half we follow Ma as she struggles with her PTSD and depression.

Despite being a very topical film, Abrahamson manages to pull off the balance between the harsh reality of abduction and the hopefulness and innocence of childhood.

Olivia Cronin