Sick Product of a Sick System

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Isabel Coixet's "The Secret Life of Words" stars Sarah Polley as a withdrawn, scarred, hearing impaired factory worker who volunteers to work on an oil rig. There she takes care of a character played by Tim Robbins, who is suffering from severe burns and temporary blindness.The film overindulges in monologues, and is too reminiscent of Oscar-baiting fare like "Sophie's Choice" and "The English Patient", but Polley turns in another excellent performance. She seems to specialise in giving good performances in films which should be better.The idea of a lonely girl on an oil-rig in the middle of the ocean is very good, and lends itself to all kinds of interesting possibilities, but Coixet can't milk these possibilities. Too often her film drifts toward conventional melodrama and familiar plot points. Still, the film boasts some fine ambiance, another raw, generous performance by Polley, and a likable cast of characters, all of whom turn to isolation and self-imposed exile as a means of shielding themselves from pain and trauma. One interesting subplot deals with an environmentalist who essentially cares so much that the world itself seems to have forced him out, turning him into a shipwrecked non citizen.7.9/10 – Wastes a good premise. This story could have been taken down a range of far more interesting avenues. Worth one viewing.

Even though each character is surrounded by a shroud of mystery, somehow through these strange unfortunate events we are given the chance to know them better than anyone will. Forced to take holiday after years without taking a break, Hanna (played by Sara Polley) gives up her vacation to take care of a man severely burned on an oil rig. Honestly the plot comes second to the exploration into these amazingly complex characters. Every character has such a story to tell yet throughout most of the film we are only given small glimpses of who they really are. However, Hanna's guard is eventually let down and she reveals a shocking secret from her past that gives light to her being.Sara Polley has her most shining moments in cinema to date... Until this film, to me she was always that chick from 'Go'. Now she has crossed the line into a fine actress. Tim Robbins also does a great job, though I have come to expect just that from him. The supporting cast does not disappoint either and gives applaud-able performances all around.This is probably one of the most endearing and enthralling films where not much happens, however, because of the slow manner in which each character is revealed and miraculously developed I found myself demanding to know more during every second of each scene. 'The Secret Life Of Words' is a must see by those that favor strong character development and don't mind a slow moving film as long as its rewarding in the end.

I bought this movie without knowing a nickel about it and this makes a good analogy of the film itself. A road you know its potholes and you know they will keep getting larger without the right care, and these potholes will keep you alert and away from distractions. The film manages to maintain traffic working.Definitely not for all tastes, but, engaging and a heartbreaking tale of suffering and nonetheless surviving through deep pain.I admire Sarah Polley for her talent as an actress and as a writer. She is almost perfect in the role of Hannah. Everything makes sense! The powerful waves that hit the oil platform creates the ambiguous sense where people seem forgotten by everyone else and become reflective about themselves taking different directions and reasons inside their minds for everything they do and believe is out of reach mostly.Beautiful poetic harsh thrust into the heart of reality of traveling lost souls!

Isabel Coixet undoubtedly possesses a tricky sense of humor (especially lines of the leading actor) and a delicate and sensitive imagination. The dialogs are prepared so smartly and the scenes are acted so lively that it was impossible to watch the movie from the "other side". the brilliant director immediately attracts you in.there are unanswered questions left so that you can make up the answers and participate in the film yourself.the synopsis is interesting and displays the lives or jobs of people far away from our sights and make the audience try to make empathy.it is like knowing that farmers exist somewhere but never ever thinking of what would it be like...to be a farmer...Moreover the film touches pathetic social issues in a very affective way without exaggerating and agitating.The only problem was dubbing...In short it is a film to see...a complete success