Why people die alone

Rating: 9/10 (25 August 2007)

It's fun to read the "Hate it" comments, and usually they have a point. Surely, this is a morality tale with worst-case-scenario ending, not a documental feature on drug abuse (for that, take a look at the German film "Christiane F.") or an investigation into the American health care system (although after watching Michael Moore's "Sicko", I think anything is possible).
The comments I read all overlooked that this is a very moving film about loneliness and alienation - the best I've seen yet besides "Blade Runner" and far above "Collateral" and the like. If you watch a lot of movies, you'll get a spooky sense of the screen looking back at you. Ellen Bustyn as the mother lives inside an incoherent TV dream, until she completely vanishes into that "brighter world" where she is not only loved, but adored. The kids have high hopes and seem to be more firmly on the ground, but Marion needs to pump up her courage and Harry loves to go easy. All three are junkies who keep the world at arms length or behind locked doors while they artificially enhance their feelings. They're not only addicted to uppers and downers, but to more-than-life-size dreams.
By contrast, reality seems drab and without purpose and the individuals utterly alone. Like true average heroes of modern society, they are frantically trying to keep up happy, successful faces. Nobody takes the time to listen to or check on the old lady. The world doesn't care, and they in turn refuse to need it until it's too late and they lose limbs, minds, relationships, freedom, self-respect and finally the will to care.
Jonathan Demme has laid a finger on a rift in society's fabric that's not easy to expose without boring the audience or adding thriller elements, and the shocking imagery gets more people to see it (as the comments confirm). Definitely a recommendable film that provokes nagging questions and engages even those who don't "like" it.