Despite its modest budget, the dedication of the cast and crew behind the film is praiseworthy. However, the film struggles to deliver a cohesive experience. In an effort to break the mold in every possible way, it unfortunately misses the mark.
There is much to say but, for example, the use of unique wide-angle lenses gives the film a distinct visual style that's hard to ignore. Yet, the constant, almost futuristic, camera movements are obviously distracting and ruin the overall effect. A balance between innovative and traditional techniques could have provided a steadier and more impactful visual narrative.
Opting for an exaggerated color palette begs the question: why then dedicate a fifth of the film to black and white? Furthermore, if this stylistic choice was intentional, the rationale behind it was not sufficiently communicated to the audience, leaving them puzzled over the decision.
The film's approach to depicting nudity, intended to symbolise the Bella's journey, ends up feeling excessive and unnecessary in many scenes. A more nuanced and restrained portrayal could have conveyed the same message with greater dignity and impact.
Echoing sentiments found in several other reviews, this story is deeply rooted in women's experiences and carries a potent feminist message. Yet, the film's execution seems distinctly male-oriented, with every creative decision reflecting a perspective that may not fully align with the story's core essence.
Although the story at the heart of the film is genuinely compelling and the acting is admirable, the way it's told detracts from its potential impact. The ambition to stand out in every aspect resulted in a fragmented presentation, diluting the emotional connection and leaving a sense of disjointedness. Ultimately, the film feels like a series of bold experiments that, while individually interesting, fail to come together into a harmonious whole, resulting in a viewing experience that's more bewildering than engaging.
There is much to say but, for example, the use of unique wide-angle lenses gives the film a distinct visual style that's hard to ignore. Yet, the constant, almost futuristic, camera movements are obviously distracting and ruin the overall effect. A balance between innovative and traditional techniques could have provided a steadier and more impactful visual narrative.
Opting for an exaggerated color palette begs the question: why then dedicate a fifth of the film to black and white? Furthermore, if this stylistic choice was intentional, the rationale behind it was not sufficiently communicated to the audience, leaving them puzzled over the decision.
The film's approach to depicting nudity, intended to symbolise the Bella's journey, ends up feeling excessive and unnecessary in many scenes. A more nuanced and restrained portrayal could have conveyed the same message with greater dignity and impact.
Echoing sentiments found in several other reviews, this story is deeply rooted in women's experiences and carries a potent feminist message. Yet, the film's execution seems distinctly male-oriented, with every creative decision reflecting a perspective that may not fully align with the story's core essence.
Although the story at the heart of the film is genuinely compelling and the acting is admirable, the way it's told detracts from its potential impact. The ambition to stand out in every aspect resulted in a fragmented presentation, diluting the emotional connection and leaving a sense of disjointedness. Ultimately, the film feels like a series of bold experiments that, while individually interesting, fail to come together into a harmonious whole, resulting in a viewing experience that's more bewildering than engaging.