RABBIT HOLE
Far from being bleak, Rabbit Hole broaches the subject of child loss in a manner that is not only honest, but also refreshingly optimistic. Following the untimely death of their young son, suburbanites Becca (Nicole Kidman) and Howie Corbett (Aaron Eckhart) find their marriage unraveling under the weight of lingering grief. Gentle-natured Howie attends group therapy, dabbles in pot and puts on a brave face, but his desperate attempts at marital intimacy end fruitlessly. Meanwhile, Becca’s cynicism ostracises her friends and family, but an unlikely bond with Jason (Miles Teller), the guilt-stricken teen whose car killed her son, offers her catharsis. Eckhart (Thank You For Smoking) endears himself to viewers with a blend of boyish charm and muted, yet palpable sadness – but the film truly belongs to Kidman (The Hours), who slowly deconstructs her character’s obstinate, icy veneer to reveal complex shades of sorrow, remorse and compassion. Tammy Blanchard, Sandra Oh and Dianne Wiest co-star. Directed with aplomb by John Cameron Mitchell, Rabbit Hole employs pathos and humour to provide keen insights into how people navigate heartbreak. (JH) ****
