Una, written by David Harrower, based on his play Blackbird

Una, written by David Harrower, based on his play Blackbird

                What a strange work!

Let me be clear: I do not think I understand what was going on in this film and what exactly the ensemble wanted to convey.

It may be one of those cases where this is actually an invitation to think and the artwork depends on the viewer…

It has been said that the onlooker is often, maybe always more important than the object of art itself

So if I dismiss this and say, well this is about a much older person who took advantage of a minor and his punishment, it could be a mistake.

Or not…

This film has some major attributes.

One of them is the actor in the leading role:

Ben Mendelsohn aka Ray

His work is outstanding, at least in two major productions that gave the public an idea of what this artist can do:

The phenomenal Animal Kingdom and more recently, the fabulous

Killing Them Softly

Having stated my admiration for the leading actor, I now must say that his contribution was nearly annulled by the other protagonist:

Rooney Mara

This artiste has a way of making me want to change the channel, even when she is in the company of big names.

Take Carol:

Even if the story was interesting, worthwhile and provoking, Rooney Mara has almost eliminated any pleasure.

It is also true that Cate Blanchet does not have the same appeal for this viewer as she used to possess.

Rooney Mara gives me the impression that she is over reaching; there is a sense of artificiality in her performance.

It is very likely that I am wrong and the parts require a certain awkwardness and what I call over the top is actually perfect planning.

Nevertheless, Una would have benefited from the presence of Eva Green or Kelly Reilly in my opinion.

Una comes to face Ray, many years after – I do not know how to describe this, the first impulse was to say-they have had an affair.

Una was very young, under age at the time and as aforementioned, it would be easy to dismiss this as an abuse.

Which in many ways it is, perhaps this is the main problem of this motion picture that it tries to complicate what seems so simple.

We have a much older man involved with a teenage girl and even if the latter thinks she loves him, it is a no go.

To try and analyze, tell the story could be liberal and open minded, but is it really the right thing to do?

Perhaps…

A comedian in disrepute-, which may highlight the problem of treating too lightly a serious, moral and life issue-, was talking about the need to understand and engage with a child kidnapper, if only to get to save the children involved.

In other words, Una may serve as a case study of what happens when a minor thinks she or he loves and older man.

Of course, it is much more complicated than that, for the film takes place more in the moment when the protagonists are adults and they look at this past, but I see the premise as paramount.

In many ways, it reminded me of Jagten aka The Hunt, wherein a much smaller child accuses a man of inappropriate behavior, almost ruining the life of an innocent person by just inventing a story.

Nevertheless, Jagten was in a completely different league, with a different take and a more meaningful subject.