Open Window - Movie Review
by Chris Hiransomboon
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February 25, 2009
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This movie review was originally written for the Long Beach-South Bay Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Spring 2009 newsletter:
Open Window (2006)
Directed by Mia Goldman
Written by Mia Goldman
Starring Robin Tunney, Joel Edgerton, Cybill Shepherd, Elliott Gould, Shirley Knight
Rated R for violence involving rape, language, some sexuality and nudity
97 minutes
Genre: Drama
Review by Chris Hiransomboon, M.S.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Vice President of Membership, LB-SB CAMFT
The issue of trauma and how it can affect everyone and everything around a person is something therapists will often deal with in their practices. Finding movies that don’t exploit the situation but rather deal with the matter truthfully is rare. Open Window is one of those movies. Izzy (Robin Tunney) and Peter (Joel Edgerton) are a young, newly engaged couple that has to deal with the shattering event of the woman’s violent rape at the hands of a stranger. Izzy just wants to forget what happened and chooses not to report the incident to the police, much to Peter’s consternation.
Over the course of the movie, Izzy’s recovery takes on a different speed than what many of her loved ones would expect or desire for her. Peter tries to be supportive, but starts to feel disconnected in not knowing how to help. Her mother Arlene (Cybill Shepherd) tries to take some control of the situation, but ends up putting her own issues with grief on top of her daughter’s. Izzy doesn’t even tell her father John (Elliott Gould) what happened. Eventually, her shock and depression give way to anger, which leaks out into Izzy’s relationships and makes it difficult for her loved ones to be understanding, especially with wounds that they can’t see.
However, Izzy does make an effort to talk about her experience with a therapist, Ann (Shirley Knight). In going over the details of the rape and her own thoughts in how she dealt with it, Izzy starts taking the path of healing. She begins to see the power she had and currently has in how her life responds to an external negative force. Being able to see how she can become stronger, even despite the suffering, helps her move forward and better communicate her needs for acceptance and love on her terms.
One other interesting aspect of the movie is that it was based on the life experiences of the director and writer, Mia Goldman. Having been raped years previous and going through her own therapy, there is a truth and insight into all of the fear, confusion, anger and grief associated with the work of healing. Open Window walks a difficult, but graceful line in showcasing vulnerability as part of re-processing and making new meaning from irrevocable traumatic circumstances.
Watch the trailer below:
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