I watched Song Without Words because it sounded like such a feelgood movie. Which it is and then some! But what I didn't expect was something just so totally magical and unique. It's also one of those rare films that comes out every now and then that has almost no dialogue but is beautiful to watch and works like a modern fairytale on the screen. It's hard to know where to start without spoiling the story.
So it's about a woman who lives in a horrible apartment block next door to a real bully. Her life is tough and she just can't get a break. Then she meets a dancer who dances like a robot. He does these shows on the street and the whole world stops when he does. The question she quickly asks herself is what if he is really a robot? We then meet other characters who see the dancer and all are asking themselves the same question. But instead of turning into science fiction, the really incredible part is the way all their stories come together and all their lives are touched.
Anna Thorold is incredible as the character trapped in a hard life. She is so good in the role that when she smiles when good things start to happen she'll break your heart. Steve Sammut is right on the money and brilliant as an office worker who also seems trapped. His boss hates him and when he comes across the dancer he starts going out of his mind trying to work out if it's a dancer. Some of his scenes are the funniest and most unexpected moments things in the whole film. Loved it!
But even though it's feelgood and fantasy, there are also suddenly some deep themes and even confronting scenes of life on the wrong side of the tracks. I found myself thinking about how much they crammed into the story and what they were trying to say and what they did say.
