Dir. Guillermo Arriaga, US, 2009, 106 mins
Cast: Charlize Theron, Jennifer Lawrence, JD Pardo, Kim Basinger, Danny Pino
Review by Michelle Moore
The Burning Plain consists of a four-layered narrative that is at first quite difficult to figure out. Sylvia (Theron) is a restaurant manager, who may have a cool exterior, but deep down hides a dark secret that is about to be revealed, when a visitor from her past brings back painful memories about her disturbing childhood. Then there is a man who after an accident seeks out his daughter's mother. Gina (Basinger) is a housewife, who embarks on an affair with a married man and lastly there are Mariana (Lawrence) and Santiago (Pardo), two troubled teens who find love after the death of their parents. This split narrative is incredibly difficult both to put into words and initially to understand. However, as the film develops and the pieces begin to fall into place, you find you are dealing with two past and two present events that gradually come together into one complete story.
This is the directorial debut feature of screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga and although at first you may have difficulty in finding a meeting point for all the various events, as your knowledge of the characters builds bit by bit, and it finally all comes together, you realise how amazing this structure is. Within this very complex set of events you not only admire the director for his simple scenery, frayed narrative and gradually comprehensive story, but also the actors, who make viewing this film such an engaging experience. Lawrence as Mariana, an impulsive and disturbed teen, who is confused about love and her family, is brilliant. Pardo as Santiago , a teenage boy torn apart by the death of his father, plays his confusing and exploratory character very well. Together these two are remarkably passionate in their intertwined story line, brought together as they are by each other's mysterious persona. Theron as Sylvia obviously doesn't mind nudity, self-harm and sex scenes, skilfully using all these elements in her role, while Basinger as the fragile Gina is remarkable.
The Burning Plain is a film whose narrative you don't fully understand until the very end Even so, it leaves you with a few questions. Is Sylvia seeking redemption? Does love conquer all? Can love forgive mistakes made in the past? The ending is left open for the audience to come to their own conclusion.
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