I love playing with words and language although I never thought that they could have a mystical quality. Some words are strange like the palindromes and some words have all the vowels in them and others in foreign languages seem to get by with almost no vowels at all.
If you intend entering a spelling bee contest you must be well read and have a good memory. In this film you will be introduced to many words you did not know existed. One of the key words in this film story is the Japanese "origami", but I am not telling you why.
The story centres around a little girl called Eliza, a real little champion when it comes to spelling. When she closes her eyes and meditates she can see the letters. It is a strange and mystical moment. Her father recognizes in his daughter a special spiritual gift which allows her (it seems) to commune with God.
She asks her father a strange question. "Is God red?" The importance of this question is revealed in the closing sequences of the film. Moments that send shivers down your spine. An all absorbing riveting moment as she hesitantly spells out the all important word in the National Contest.
Her father spends many hours coaching his daughter in the hope that she will develop her mystical powers, something which he himself had never quite attained. Unfortunately he was so absorbed in this task, he neglected the needs of his wife and son. There seemed to be no communication between the family members. His family life was shattered like a glass vessel smashed into a hundred shards. The story suggests that in some mystical way love and communion with God can recreate the whole.
All the roles are well-played. I thought the argument between father and son was particularly well done. The girl from the Hare Krishna group was like a breath of fresh air to a troubled family. And mother's nervous breakdown brought us into a fantastic world of stolen glass fragments.
Altogether I think the film was completely absorbing and the ending well thought out. After all,it seems that sacrifice and love can mend a broken world.
If you intend entering a spelling bee contest you must be well read and have a good memory. In this film you will be introduced to many words you did not know existed. One of the key words in this film story is the Japanese "origami", but I am not telling you why.
The story centres around a little girl called Eliza, a real little champion when it comes to spelling. When she closes her eyes and meditates she can see the letters. It is a strange and mystical moment. Her father recognizes in his daughter a special spiritual gift which allows her (it seems) to commune with God.
She asks her father a strange question. "Is God red?" The importance of this question is revealed in the closing sequences of the film. Moments that send shivers down your spine. An all absorbing riveting moment as she hesitantly spells out the all important word in the National Contest.
Her father spends many hours coaching his daughter in the hope that she will develop her mystical powers, something which he himself had never quite attained. Unfortunately he was so absorbed in this task, he neglected the needs of his wife and son. There seemed to be no communication between the family members. His family life was shattered like a glass vessel smashed into a hundred shards. The story suggests that in some mystical way love and communion with God can recreate the whole.
All the roles are well-played. I thought the argument between father and son was particularly well done. The girl from the Hare Krishna group was like a breath of fresh air to a troubled family. And mother's nervous breakdown brought us into a fantastic world of stolen glass fragments.
Altogether I think the film was completely absorbing and the ending well thought out. After all,it seems that sacrifice and love can mend a broken world.