Nothing Personal

Polish director Urszula Antoniak uses her 2009 film, Nothing Personal to tell a story about living on the margins in this modern, fractured world. Set in Ireland, we first discover Anne (Lotte Verbeek) in a stripped bare apartment above a bustling street. She slowly pulls the gold wedding band from her finger and disappears onto a deserted country road. Car after car passes her outstretched thumb. Urszula informs the audience that this vignette is titled "Loneliness," one of several that take us through Anne's troubled life.

When a passerby finally stops to give her a ride, Martin (Steven Rea) offers to give her food for working the garden at his small, seaside cottage - something his now departed wife used to attend to. Both Martin and Anne are loners, filled with mistrust and long-simmering hurts that get manifested in the eerie silence that overlays their uneasy relationship.

Over time a thaw sets in. Small attempts at trust are seen as a few words emerge from formerly silent mouths. The relationship continues to slowly unfold until some form of love overtakes the misfits.

The pace leaves plenty of time to absorb the unconventional relationship into which these two fall. Only two actors with a few cameos by extras are needed to tell this story. It's interesting, basic film making - something one would expect from a schooled director working at getting her film credentials.

A brief nude scene helps us understand the psychological state of Anne as she struggles with who she is and with who she is becoming.

The film never made it into mainline distribution in the US. Too slow, and deals with too serious a theme. The U.S. market favors films what are shallow and fast! Still, I found this film thought provoking and an interesting use of the medium.

A 2½ out of 5 for me.