Night Has Settled

Okay, only almost every one. A worthwhile story about dealing with loss lies hidden deep inside the movie. But the characters, and especially Oliver, are so thoroughly and consistently repugnant that I just couldn't feel much empathy. They're not quite the sociopaths depicted in Larry Clark's "Kids", but they're veering that way.

Also, the writers/director give us neither background nor current events to explain why Oliver's filial affection became focused on housekeeper Aida rather than his mother. And there's no explanation of why his sister wants so desperately to leave to live with dad rather than with mom. The mom seems like a loving, caring person. Her open and frank communication with 13-year-old Oliver about sexual matters may strike some viewers as off-putting, but I thought it healthy, and so apparently did they. So what is their problem with her? Not explaining this made the entire story somewhat unbelievable, or at least baffling.

The story had huge potential, but failed. What a waste of good film.