Review of The Elementary Particles (2006) by Bannan I — 15 Dec 2007

For some odd reason I am just hugely drawn to movies of this calibre. They intrigue me to no end, even though I may only know one actress who...is from one of my favourite philosophical movies. Of course, I'm talking about Franka Potente...aka the Lola in Run Lola Run....which is a blatant ploy to make you lot check that movie out as well!

Regardless, as I watched this film it started out to be something I just wouldn't have expected it to be and I love the fact that it was in its original language with subtitles. I'd rather read than want to listen to some poorly dubbed version [ though most of the time one might want to question the translations ].

Back to the movie; it's a story about two half-brothers Michael and Bruno. When they were younger, their mother completely ignored them and didn't even let them find out about each other until well they were in early highschool at the latest. Both were left in care of their grandparents while she was into that 'hippy schieze' Bruno always complains about.

Bruno seems to be an english teacher in highschool who has fallen out of love with his wife and fails time and time again to find someone else to fill that void. Although, after much searching she basically falls into his lap and then the real interesting stuff starts to happen. His returning to 'the clinic' is not uncommon and he is always invited back there with all the lithium he wants with basically open arms from the nurses and Dr Schafer.

Michael is one of those really silent and extremely brilliant people who grows up to become molecular biologist who is still socially awkward after all those years. One day he leaves his work in Germany for a tenure and wants to return back to Ireland where he almost finished his other work. During this time he receives notice of his grandmother's grave having to be moved and coincidentally runs into his childhood sweetheart whose letters he had just read earlier.

It's interesting how something so sad can become endearing and even funny at some parts. All the actors do a wonderful job fulfulling the roles of these characters that become so believable that we can't help but want to help them out in some way.