The Escape

source: The Escape

The Escape is a very slow movie. I believe this should be the first thing to keep in mind if you are going to watch it. On the other hand, it is an incredibly deep movie with a real focus on characters, feelings and emotions. You can actually feel the pain and the sorrow, and even if you do not agree with the choices of Tara, you canot avoid to suffer with her. Not the best movie of the year, but for sure a good option to explore a little bit more the human nature of couples.

Ok, if you have experienced a separation, and you are the man, don't watch it because it will open old wounds. The story about a woman who is bored with her life and the two little kids, kindergarten age. She seems morose all the time, her husband reminded me of myself, except for the morning sex. He tries to cheer her up, he gives her attention and she is just too selfish! Many women feel that way when kids come along, but the strong ones make it thru... On the whole, it is a boring movie for anyone who can relate to the situation... Go watch something more cheerful..

The silent tragedy of a married woman who has lost the connection with Her Self. At first glance Tara seems to have achieved everything a woman could dream of - 2 healthy children, a house, a loving husband. But (like everyone of us) intuitively she knows that there is something else to aim for. I would like to quote Jim Carrey who said: "I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer." So, what is THE answer? The puzzling answer that can give authentic meaning of our life? Obviously finding a French lover in Paris is not the right decision. The ultimate escape is not a romantic escapade! Here is where the tapestries' symbolism comes at play. There is an old Chinese proverb saying: The body is a city with five gates - eyes, ears, nose, mouth, touch. These five doors lead the Spiritual energy outside, there is only one door, a small opening - the door of consciousness that lead us inside. Only when we enter inside ourselves we can reach freedom. Thus the only way out is in. That's the true escape/liberation. The sixth tapestry is called "À mon seul désir" meaning that if we want to meet our true Self, we must apply true intent. This is the symbol of consciousness knowing itSelf (God). IMHO "Knowing the Self" was not the intended meaning of the movie, it's only my personal interpretation based on the tapestries' symbolism.

Boring, painful, annoying, simpering and morally weak heroine. Hates her privileged life. Does nothing about it, says nothing. Abandons children. Has affair. Oh woe is me. And the point of all this is? OMFG

If you're someone who doesn't understand the depths of depression then the main character may seem selfish, self indulgent and inconsiderate of her hard working husband and her children. To escape and leave as she does is less selfish than the alternative (suicide). This mother is feeling trapped and wants more from life. Her husband's attempts to make her feel better felt to me like it was more stifling, she can't breath and telling someone to "get over it" and "smile" just makes depression worse. When you're that down sometimes things like therapy aren't even an option you can come up with. Perhaps her husband did fail her in this regard. Those who felt the ending wasn't enough didn't pay attention enough. *** SPOILERS*** The movie ends as it began. She is on her own. Puts on make up and walks out of an apartment. This is not the same location/home we see throughout the movie. We see her final decision at the start and simply find out her reasons for it in the next hour and a half. She has chosen life and herself.

..yea, spoilers I guess.. not lots to spoil.. ..she's got a husband offering only unemotional sex (unsatisfying for her) .. and wants her to be only a homemaker in addition.. ..she wants more intellectual & personal challenges, and she's very depressed .. (to her, he's uncaring, distant, boorish, and selfish-in-bed) ..so she runs off (on a one-way ticket) to Paris.. ..picks up a guy in a museum ..right off has what looks like satisfying sex with him.. .. then next morning discovers he's married ...she's married.. he's married.. both have kids ..he tells her it's complicated with his wife.. she says get lost ..she's depressed (again).. and guilt-ridden (this time for real) ..while having a mental breakdown out on the street ..she meets an older woman that rescues, mentors, and tells her ..to change completely her life.. try changing it with him (the husband) ...and if that doesn't work.. then change it w/o him (hint) ..hubby goes to meet her.. they hug w/o saying a word.. ..look on her face says.. I'm sorry, but we're over.. and they travel back ..next scene, she's in her own personally-decorated flat .. (across from Trattoria Mondello in London).. ..getting ready, and goes out (like on a date?) ..she's forlorn upon hearing children playing in a park nearby.. ..(seeing as she must have given hers up by now.. she thinks of them) ..then she gathers her composure, turns with head up, and walks briskly away.. the end ..so it seems, this is much more than your average mid-life crisis.. ..in that she definitely doesn't want to be married to him anymore.. ..'and' apparently doesn't want custody of the kids either.. ..all actors are okay in their roles.. no big challenges, but satisfying work ..kinda interesting 100 minutes.. she's by far the best part of the film.. ..most of this genre of films are about the man walking out on the family.. ..here the young wife & mother.. not being able to cope any longer ..needs to 'escape' by herself.. and now awaits her new life ..hey.. it's the movies.. .

This movie is basically a hyperbolic perspective on everyday boredom mixed with some pocket philosophy on braking free from it. The dialogues are poorly written, all of the characters are self-absorbed and shallow and the best idea they could come up with for the grand escape is a superficial enamorment with medieval tapestry, eating pancakes in Paris or screwing a photographer. It's well shot though.

Wow, this an excellent portrayal of depression, and I'm sure it'll resonate with so many mothers/wives out there. It is so good, so realistic and recognisable, it was very difficult to watch at times. Gemma Arterton should be applauded for her work here. Unfortunately I felt the narrative too simplistic and the ending unsatisfying. They've also gone for minimal dialogue, which whilst I'm sure some would argue you don't need as everything is written on their faces, I personally found it much too minimal. In summary - amazing and moving portrayal of depression and helplessness in the acting, but ultimately a not wholly satisfying film to watch. 7/10

I suppose the title is a spoiler in itself... but I really did like the film a lot until the ending which I felt was a copout. The film was well acted; I felt the pain of the character played by Arterton throughout. It's the housewife/mother's dilemma we feminists identified decades ago: many or even most women won't be satisifed "just" keeping house, raising their children and keeping their man happy. No, a woman needs meaningful activity in her life in which her thoughts and creativity can be used. This is what Arterton's character was missing and seeking. It was interesting if not obvious the way the older French woman who "rescues" her at the end tells her to "try to make your life work with your husband and if that doesn't work, make it work without him." Well, yes, and early on in the film the husband does give the wife this opportunity. When she was just discovering how sad and unfulfilled she was, he, apparently sincerely, tells her, "Just tell me what you want. I'll do anything for you." If only she knew enough at that point she could have said, well here's a list of what I want and need." But as in real life, things aren't usually that tidy or easy. So she had to go through running away and meeting a cad of a man in order to realize that she already had enough good in her life to work with. I would have loved the movie even more if the ending had been more definitive. Instead, it does a kind of "We've come full circle" thing in which we're left to surmise what the main character does next.