Sunday 8 May 2016

Room DVD (review + giveaway /c 29 May 2016)

Room starts with a series of unconnected close-ups of a scratched wall, a dirty skylight, a sink, you hear someone whispering "Go back to sleep"... Young Mum Joy and her five-year-old son Jack are "entombed" alive in the Room. It all feels surreal and claustrophobic, yet this 10x10ft space is their reality, their enclosed world. Ma (Brie Larson) was kidnapped as a teenager and kept in the shed with the skylight by her captor.

This courageous young woman tries to build a new world for her son which goes "in every direction, all the way to the end". She constructs their life around the routine and teaches her son, he's a good reader and an imaginative soul.
For her it's a prison, which she dreams of escaping from, for her son it's the only world he knows. Their domestic routine is threatened by the weekly visits from Old Nick, the captor who brings the food and things and uses the mother as his sex slave, while the boy is hiding in the wardrobe.
After watching the film, I started reading the book by Emma Donoghue, which I bought ages ago, and never had a chance to read before. The book is more nuanced than the film, and the film lacks the unique grammar of Jack's inner monologue. Quite of a few details from the book were changed. For example, breastfeeding is one of the constants of Jack's life and his strong bond with his mother. In the film it is only hinted at, when Jack tries to lift his Mum's tshirt. I understand this was probably not easy to replicate in film, there is so much a child actor would be comfortable with doing.
Also the book shows in great detail just how inventive and creative the mother is to keep her son's min stimulated. She invents the whole curriculum and home-schools him in the most unconventional way, like making him repeat whole passages he just heard on TV, or crafting things with whatever meagre materials they have at their disposal, that would put any Blue Peter presenter in the shadow, she shows great wisdom and ingenuity. Again, this is less prominent in the film.

Image credits: Studiocanal


What the film managed to convey though is how authentic and truthful the story feels, it is haunting, gripping and compassionate.
I cried watching the film. A lot. It is such a heartbreaking story, very moving and inspirational.

Jacob Tramblay as Jack is exceptionally good.

Image credits: Studiocanal

It brings parallels with the real-life stories of abduction and imprisonment. It is a tragic story, yet at the same time there is so much love between the mother and child, that it is also uplifting. For her, her son is not a result of immense suffering and abuse, he is the most cherished creature on Earth, her companion and salvation. They are dedicated to each other and are fiercely protective of each other.
For her he agrees to go along with her most risky escape plan, thus saving them both.
But once outside the confined world they knew for so long (or all his life in Jack's case), they have to adapt to the "real" world outside. Adapt, adjust, survive and keep on protecting each other.
The power of love is palpable in this film, thanks to the great acting by both Brie Larson and Jacob Tramblay.




ROOMOUT ON DVD BLU-RAY & EST ON 9TH MAY 2016
Winner: ‘Best Actress’ Academy Award®, BAFTA, Golden Globe. Also nominated for a further three Academy Awards,
two Golden Globes and one BAFTA.
“Brie Larson is nothing short of perfect in this heart-breaking, life affirming drama brilliantly directed by Lenny Abrahamson.”The Observor
‘Wondrous, magical and uplifting...an extraordinary film’
***** Metro ‘Powerful and hugely affecting’
***** Heat***** Total Film ***** The Observer ***** The Times *****The Daily Mail
**** Empire **** The Guardian **** The Independent
STUDIOCANAL is delighted to announce the DVD and Blu-Ray release of the multi award winning ROOM onMay 9th 2016. Directed by Academy Award® nominated

Lovely people from Studiocanal have kindly offered a Room DVD prize as a blog giveaway.

If you haven't seen the film, and would love to win a DVD, please enter this blog giveaway, using Rafflecopter entry form.

T&Cs:
The giveaway is open to the UK residents only.
Once the Rafflecopter picks the winner, I will contact them regarding address details, if they do not reply within 28 day, the prize will be allocated to another person.
Please don't forget to leave a comment, as it is the only mandatory step, I will make sure the winner selected by Rafflecopter has complied with T&Cs.

The giveaway will close on 29 May 2016 (at midnight)

Good luck!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

51 comments:

  1. No, but would love to see the movie!

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  2. No I have not but would like to

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  3. No I have not but would like to

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  4. Ni I have not seen or read the book but have heard lots of good things about the film, I would love to see it :)

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  5. i haven't read or seen it but sounds good

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  6. I have the book but along with an ever growing pile of books,I haven't read it yet.I haven't seen the film either.

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  7. No to both but I have read true accounts of cases where people have been imprisoned secretly and cannot imagine how they cope.

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  8. I've read the book, it was a brilliant read, so I'm excited for it to come out on DVD.

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  9. No I have not seen the movie or read the book jus yet.

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  10. No I haven't seen the film but the reviews look good

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  11. I havent read or seen it, Looks great though.

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  12. yes I saw it was so sad in parts x

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  13. No, the book is on my to read list, but I've heard it and the film are excellent

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  14. I haven't read it but it is on my to-read list, though I will read it before I watch it!

    Stacey Guilliatt

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  15. No, i didn't even know there was a book x

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  16. I haven't but would love too xx

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  17. No I have not seen or read the book but would like to.

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  18. No, I'd love to read the book first

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  19. Paula Readings23 May 2016 at 20:11

    Not as yet

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  20. I haven't read it or seen it, but I sure have heard a lot of good things about it.

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  21. I read the book, hope the film lives up to the book...they often fall short.

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  22. Neither but I'd love to both watch the film and read the book! The cinema trailer looked fantastic!

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  23. have neither read the novel nor seen the film but would look forward to doing so

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  24. Neither, but I have the book and will be reading it soon.

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  25. No, I haven't read the book or seen the movie but it sounds amazing!

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  26. I haven't done either yet, but both are on the list!!

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  27. I havnt done either but would love to

    trevor linvell

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  28. NEITHER I`M AFRAID . DOES THAT DISQUALIFY ME?

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  29. No to both questions but I feel I should have read the book by now.

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  30. Neither but I've heard about it.

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  31. Sadiyya maryam25 May 2016 at 10:56

    I have read the book and it is so emotive and inspiring. I haven't been able to watch the movie yet. Many thanks for running this lovely giveaway.

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  32. Rachel Griffiths26 May 2016 at 13:20

    I saw the film at the cinema, hopefully i'll be able to read the book soon.

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  33. No, it sounds really good though x

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  34. I read the book about a year before I saw the film - the film is slightly different to the book but both are amazing

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  35. No, but would love to see the movie!

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  36. I have read the book

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  37. I have read reviews, but not seen the film.

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  38. I have seen the film in the cinema and its amazing

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  39. I've not read the book, but I will read it before I watch the film.

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  40. I did read the novel and thought it was fantastic. I am looking forward to seeing the film.

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  41. I haven't read it or seen the film but I'd like to

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  42. No, I've neither read the book nor seen the film, but I would love to do both as I've heard really good things about it .x

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  43. Read the book, but not seen the movie yet. Can't do with cinema when everyone's making as much noise as possible lol, oh and I usually get someone sat behind me who kicks my chair (even if the cinema is half-empty and they could sit somewhere else).

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  44. No I haven't read the novel nor seen the film, but I love the sound of it and it's definitely one I would love to both read and see....I'm just not very good at getting round to it!

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