A woman (Brie Larson) and her five-year-old son Jack (Jacob Tremblay) live their lives within a single soundproofed room in which the woman – who the boy only knows as ma – was imprisoned seven years before.
Since he has known nothing but it, Jack only recognises the reality of the room and everything within its walls: the sea can’t be real, he reasons, because it is too big. He thinks the same about trees although he recognises the existence of plants since there is a potted one actually in the room.
As the film progresses, Jack’s mother tries to convince him of the existence of the outside world whilst also trying to contrive a means of escape from the room and their captor ‘Old Nick’ (Sean Bridgers).
Lenny Abrahamson’s adaptation of the novel by Emma Donoghue (who also wrote the screenplay) is profoundly moving. Its examination of the effects of a child’s environment on their psychological development is also interesting and insightful.
Despite putting what might be the climax of a similar movie in the middle of the film, Room never loses its ability to interest. This is thanks to committed performances from young Jacob Tremblay and Brie Larson as well as Abrahamson’s direction, which does an excellent job of capturing a child’s silver lined view of the world.
It will be interesting to see how the film fares at the Academy Awards where it has, rather deservedly, been nominated in four categories – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actress (for Larson).
Star Rating: 5/5
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