07-03-29 Look Both Ways (2005)

Seen: March 25th, 2007
Format: DVD
Rating: 7

Look Both Ways is another of those multiple story line films, where the characters are related by a few degrees of separation and each present and represent a different aspect of a common theme. Unlike many multiple story line films I've seen recently, Look Both Ways actually works, and works well.

Its success lies in its simplicity. The stories are simple. The characters are simple. The situations are simple. There is a fundamental truth here. The world doesn't need to be a complex and hyper-dramatic to hold our attention, to make an impact, to make us care.

We've all seen an astonishing sunset. We've all stared in wonder at the night sky. But conveying that feeling to someone else is difficult. It must rely on some shared context, and even when we are lucky enough to adequately express our intent, having it truly connect with our audience is difficult and rare.

The theme here is living and dying. Not their mysteries themselves, but how we approach them, are affected by them, and are ultimately defined by them. It's an ancient conceit, but one that springs new for each generation. It is as fundamental as our very lives.

There are no judgements here. No easy or glib solutions. No railing against the dying of the light. We are presented with several situations and simply observe them as they unfold.

When viewing Look Both Ways, I doubt that any two people will see the same film. Everyone will bring their own experiences to bear, and react based on them. Each character will be different for them, and the events bring slightly different expectations and resolutions. The brilliance of this film is genericism and universality. It is something to everyone, but not necessarily the same something.

There are interesting creative and technical aspects to the film. They initially draw the viewer in, but fade after a time, both in their frequency and import, as we begin to identify with the characters. In the end, they're really not necessary, as the quality and sheer sincerity of the film are more than adequate to carry it.

This film is no masterwork. It is not revolutionary. I may not remember it in a year. But it engaged and immersed me in a world which I cared about. It made me think and made me feel, and for me, that's the hallmark of a successful film.

The Good: Simple tales of living and dying

The Bad: Taking death for granted

The Ugly: The expectation of catastrophe