A LITTLE BIT OF SADNESS : "RABBIT HOLE"

“I don’t think I’ll be able to watch this” said one of my ex-colleagues known for her sensitivity, “My boy’s about the same age, I just…” “Oh poo…” I thought to myself as I settled down to the film. “Motherhood hormones eh? Guess I won’t get it ‘till I am one too!” I had been, however, slightly too dismissive of Rabbit Hole. After having watched it I can tell you with a clear conscience that it comes with a serious, SERIOUS disclaimer: “This film will seriously upset you. Watch on a sunny day.” Something like this. And this without even particularly liking Nicole Kidman...
It’s all in the subject you see. It’s the story of Becca (Nicole Kidman) and Howie (Aaron Eckheart). A loving couple going through one of the toughest patches a couple can go through. Their four year old son chased his dog out into the road a few months ago and the unfortunate driver of a passing car was unable to stop, hitting and killing the little boy. Ever since, their world has been turned on its head. The members of the help group they attend try their best – there are veterans who have been attending for a VERY long time there after all – so does the family; Becca’s brother has also passed away, that’s why her mother has plenty of advice to give as she suffers from the same pain. However life goes on – painful but true – and Becca’s sister is actually pregnant now and is settling down with her new and rather eccentric boy friend. Friends are around but understandably awkward, and though Howie tries to deal with the pain as best he can, Becca seems to have simply lost the will to live… Will she be able to “rejoin the world” or is she lost for good?
Losing a child is undoubtedly one of the greatest pains one can experience in this world… And this film gives us a sense-numbingly realistic portrait of the tragic event’s effects on the parents but also on the unfortunate driver as well… I am not a massive fan of Nicole Kidman – as I have mentioned at the beginning of this post – and I generally find her rather cold and unable to convey feeling. Of course, this sentiment comes into its own in this film – Becca is, in effect, completely numb. Unable to connect, unable to experience anything except her pain. You would have to not have a heart (emotionally speaking) not to be touched (hence, she was nominated for an Oscar with her performance and good for her!). Aaron Eckheart portrays a completely different way of coping; he tries to get on somehow, maybe the healthier outlook. This is not necessarily because he cares less or feels less pain but because he feels the need to join the world somehow to avoid the pain inside… Will their relationship survive this ordeal and their two very different coping mechanisms? Will they themselves survive this grave trial? You will have to watch and see…
Rabbit Hole is a brave film that takes on a difficult topic that is “not on the beaten trail” so to speak, if only because of its grave nature… It is a film about tragedy, and also about how life goes on… And that this not necessarily always a bad thing…