Can love blossom after losing both your legs to a killer whale? Well, "Rust and Bone" attempts to answer this question and address many other hard truths in what stands to be the most heart-wrenching romance in recent memory.
A French-Belgian hybrid, "Rust and Bone" is a romantic drama with plenty of brutal bite to keep the story consistently honest. The characters are not drummed up Hollywood actors passing off as you or I, they are truly authentic portrayals of real people facing real situations. Detailing varying degrees of relationships, "Rust and Bone" explores the complexities between man and woman, father and son, brother and sister, and even the disabled and the able bodied.
Alain is a recently unemployed father of one who takes on a series of odd jobs after moving in with his sister. Through his part-time security job, Alain meets Stephanie who is bloodied up in a bar fight. After escorting her back to her car, the two seem to have an immediate spark despite their brief interaction. Stephanie is a killer whale trainer who literally has everything pulled out from underneath her when her legs get amputated due to a catastrophic work related accident.
Amidst having casual sex with any female who crosses his path, Alain manages to also double as Stephanie's part time caretaker while she adjusts to her drastic lifestyle changes. The two eventually develop an intriguing relationship based upon not only Stephanie's dependency due to her disability but unconditional support of one another as well. Their unconventional friendship turned romance is a rocky one at that with both characters revealing serious character flaws. Alain is an unapologetic neglectful dad and Stephanie is ill-tempered with a tendency towards violence. Yet when together, their various faults are effectively glossed over.
The film has more emotional lows than highs, so don't expect a feel-good story here. In a movie that boasts a double amputation, borderline child abuse, and domestic violence it's hard to fathom a silver lining. Yet, the film wraps up with a feeling of optimism for the future despite the odds being stacked up against the lead characters. "Rust and Bone" is quite simply a full circle coming-of -age gut punch that will leave you rattled yet emboldened. The characters are relatable on a wholly intrinsic level which pushes the plot forward at a unblinking pace. It's hard to look away, but all too easy to immerse yourself in the overwhelming thrill of it all.
With the recent dvd release of "Rust and Bone" there is plenty to be excited about in terms of special features. There's an insightful commentary track with director Jacques Audiard and screenwriter Thomas Bidegain, a making-of featurette, and deleted scenes equipped with commentary as well. Yet, most intriguing of all is the behind-the-scenes special effects feature which details how the film seamlessly made an amputee out of an able-bodied actress.
Film: 4.5 Yaps Extras: 5 Yaps
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg7skcyYolU]