2 of 2

Jinabyne's greatest strength is its array of memorable performances. Byrne does what he does best—he makes Stewart a dark, troubled, haunted man. Furness—Hugh Jackman's wife for more than a decade—proves she's a formidable talent herself. And the children are remarkable in some complicated, emotional scenes.

But the film belongs to Linney (The Exorcism of Emily Rose). This is her most complex and powerful big screen performance. Thanks to her, Claire wins our sympathies in spite of her alarming, idealistic tendencies. Linney is absolutely convincing every step of the way.

Lawrence's last film, Lantana—a fantastic 2001 drama that was sorely overlooked—struck a variety of chords. Jindabyne's most serious flaw is its unrelentingly somber mood, which is amplified by mournful score. As a result, 123 minutes feel more like 180.

Jindabyne and Lantana share strikingly similar themes. (They also feature the delightful presence of Leah Purcell in supporting roles.) But they reach very different conclusions. Where Lantana moved us through trouble into hope, Jindabyne feels more like a lament for irreconcilable differences. It challenges us with many complicated issues—cultural, ethical, and religious—but it leaves us with very little resolution. We're left wondering if there is any hope for the marriages or the community. Will they go on suppressing their pain and ignoring their differences? Is reconciliation even possible?

It'll take more than a few apologies, more than a song and a mystical puff of smoke, to bring healing and consolation to this town.

Talk About It

1. What was wrong with Stewart and Claire's marriage? What do they need to learn in order to save it? How are they failing their son Tom?
2. What does Kane's decision to keep fishing tell us about the way he responds to problems?
3. Billy seems different than the rest of his fishing buddies. How is he different? What does that tell us about their generation gap?
4. Is Vanessa, Stewart's mother, a good or bad influence on their family? Is she sticking her nose where it doesn't belong? Or does the family need her?
5. Compare and contrast the fishermen and their marriages. Is there an admirable marriage in that community? Do they suffer from similar maladies?
6. Do you find any kind of comfort in the ceremony at the end of the film? Do you feel any hope for these characters? Are they learning anything important?

The Family Corner

Jindabyne is rated R for disturbing images, language and some nudity. The nudity is brief, with the discovery of a dead body stripped naked. There's brief violence, and some truly disturbing conversations and scenes of explosive rage between husbands and wives.

Photos © Copyright Sony Pictures Classics

© Jeffrey Overstreet subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

• Catholic News Service

first page |  2 of 2