Martyrs

Released: 2008 (French)

MPAA rating: R (DVD is Unrated)

Runtime: 1:39

I don't even know where to begin with this one. First, if you decide to see this, I can guarantee you will be shocked, horrified, disgusted, but captivated. The basic framework of the story centers around Lucie (Mylene Jampanoi). Lucie, as a child, escapes a home where she is being kept bound and tortured. She is raised in an orphanage where she befriends Anna (Morjana Alaoui). As adults, they make it their mission to track down and punish the family responsible for the torture. This pretty much happens in the first third of the movie, making you wonder "What? What could be left of this movie?" Oh boy, do you learn what's next. As the second third deals with the aftermath of their revenge, it sets up the third act, which is basically someone being relentlessly tortured. This becomes extremely uncomfortable to watch and, while not as gory as I expected (it IS gory), it is much more upsetting and disturbing as anything you have ever seen. This is no mindless, senseless torture, however. It has a very definite purpose, with the perpetrators really believing they are serving a "greater good" (thus the title). As you watch this, you begin to explain it away. "There is no way you could get together a group of people to do this kind of stuff!!" Then, you remember Nazi Germany and Jonestown, etc. and your defense that this is unrealistic gets stripped away. A day later, I am still not sure I "liked" this movie. It is intensely powerful, deeply symbolic and a dark movie. I cannot, in good conscience, use the term "entertaining", but it is one of those movies that will stay with you as you try to analyze what you saw. What did it all mean? The ambiguous ending that purposely has you confused as to what the results of all that you have seen. I am going to give this a very good grade, mainly because I like films that make you think and keep themselves open for interpretation. Much time can be spent discussing the concepts and ideas raised and that is the making of a great film. However, this is NOT for everybody and certainly not for the squeamish. You WILL be disturbed!

Grade: B+

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