Movie Review: The Son's Room

Story: It is never easy to portray grief in film without going over the top on both sentiment and the most overly used word of the day...closure. But, producer, writer, director and actor Nanni Moretti does an exceptional job of portraying the topic in this film. The winner of this year's Palme d'Or at Cannes and most likely a nominee for Best Foreign Film in the Oscars. 'The Son's Room' is similar in subject matter to the brilliant In the Bedroom. The loss of a child is never easy - but how this Italian family handles the accidental death of their teenage son is sure to be a classic. We are witness to the five stages of grief (denial, depression, anger, bargaining and acceptance) by the bereft parents and teenage sister and also share the 'what ifs' that we have all used so much of late.

Acting: Exceptional work by all.

Critters: Some Italian dogs.

Food: It is an Italian movie...of course there was food.

Visual Art: Lots of barely noticeable art around the house.

Blatant Product Placement: All Italian products.

Soundtrack: Except for an annoying Brian Eno song, it was fine.

Opening Titles: Simple black and white.

Theater Audience: A small group of foreign film devotees.

Sappy Factor: 0 - it could have been a sapfest in lesser directorial hands.

Predictability Level: High

Tissue Usage: 1

Oscar Worthy: Perhaps.

Nit Picking: No nits to pick.

Big Screen or Rental: Either will do. For a long, sad weekend you could rent Under the Sand, In the Bedroom (when it is released on video), Ordinary People, and Terms of Endearment. Don't forget to buy a box of tissues on the way home from the video store.

Length: 100 minutes

LOBO HOWLS: 8