LIMBO (2020)

 

Written & Directed By: Ben Sharrock

Cinematography: Nick Cooke

Editor: Karel Dolak and Lucia Zucchetti 

Cast: Amir El-Masry, Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi, Kwabena Ansah, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Kenneth Collard, Sanjeev Kohli, Cameron Fulton

Omar is a promising young musician. Separated from his Syrian family, he is stuck on a remote Scottish island awaiting the fate of his asylum request.

This is not going to be a movie for everybody. As the film takes its time and makes its way. 

At first, it feels like a movie that is styled like a Wes Anderson film. Just as offbeat as even the trailers make it come off that way. It only stays within that deadpan style for the first act of the film.

After that, the film maintains an eye and framing similar to that style. It gets deeper and more dramatic. The film still tries to communicate with Less dialogue and stays deadpan 

It finds it can say much with very few words and letting the still camera make every scene look like a painting and find beauty in the landscape. It also works almost Like a comic strip.

It also shows the absurdity of immigrant life. As they are being taught the customs of their new homeland. The lessons are condescending and humorous without the instructors fully realizing almost how insulting they are.

We get to meet and learn about all the various immigrants staying at this location and how the townsfolk react and treat them, but we mainly stay with Omar, who is usually unsmiling and quite serious.

As with many films about displacement and settling. The film offers some dry light humor and droll observations about all the cultures involved 

The film is constantly surprising but does move at its own pace. Once you get on its wavelength you are appreciative of Its style and story and eventually actually manages to affect you out of nowhere but you oddly knew it was coming. Which is similar to the plight of these characters.

This is a film that seems Like it’s not doing much but is telling a strong story. That might seem individual but can be universal. It feels quirky but uses that quality to let your guard down and let it in. Then it gives you heartbreak and drama. That lies in its heart. Luckily the ending gives us hope. 

Grade: B