Vinyan: A Movie Review

Director: Fabrice Du Welz.

Writer(s): Oliver Blackburn, and Fabrice Du Welz.

A feature about the Vinyan or angry ghosts who are confused, in Thailand, this film shows the clashes in culture between westerners and easterners and a parents' grief of losing a child. Already premiering at the Fantastic Fest in Austin, "Vinyan," comes out on DVD this April 7, 2009. But, the film, from writer and director Fabrice Du Welz, will likely divide viewers amongst those who enjoy open ended dramas and those who right the film off as not horrific enough. Blending the surreal and the real "Vinyan," goes the distance to tell an entertaining tale of despair, in the beautiful backdrop of post-tsunami Thailand.

Beginning with Paul Belhmer (Rufus Sewell) and Emmanuelle Beart (Janet Belhmer) recovering from the death of their son Joshua (Borhan Du Welz), from the 2004 tsunami, the husband is moving on with the loss while the mother believes that Joshua is still alive. Conflicting beliefs come to a head when wife Janet sees a premonition of her son, on a promotional video for charity work in Burma. Arguing ensues between Paul and Emmanuelle.

The central characters break-up briefly in Bangkok, Thailand and later find each other; then, they begin to draw up plans for travel, to Burma the location in which the video, possibly showing Joshua, was shot. Paul agrees to pay for travel with Janet to Burma, via Triad gang junk transport. Add in some random shots of leering children along the way, a strange meeting with an albino, Thai child and a ghost ship with more angry, staring kids and you have one recipe for a uniquely Asian story of spirits in limbo.

After meeting some of the locals Paul and Janet arrive at way station for the dead on a desolate island, in the middle of Burma. At this new location the villagers are either dead or captive to the local Vinyan. Later, at this very unresort like retreat the spirits of dead children provoke, antagonize and murder many of the central characters in the story, except for Janet who they see as a mother figure. In the final scene, involving some very greyish-looking miniature adults, Janet allows the dead children to grope her body, including breasts, as she apparently slips gleefully into madness. Cue credits and let the interpretation begin.

Primarily focusing on the grief of losing a loved one "Vinyan," shows how two characters deal differently with grief. The husband, Paul, deals with the guilt over his son's death by drinking and turning to wife Janet, for support. Janet, in turn, will not let go of her sons memory and in an unbelievable, desperate fashion becomes mute and erratic during most of the film. Other themes including a mother's love for a child, eastern culture impacting with western, and the dangers of travel to foreign lands are given attention, but the film centrally revolves around the concept of grief.

Director Fabrice Du Welz from 2004s "Calvaire," really takes a creative approach with the camera and story. Seemingly out of a dream, several shots of a ghostly Joshua, in stark red lighting, sets the mysterious tone of the film. Du Welz does not cue in the viewer in as to when dream sequences are happening, or if they are happening and the last half of the film highlights this director's impressionistic view of storytelling. Forgoing the steadicam, many of the shots are recorded in various shaky camera modes, with one of the longest and most complex crane shots finishing out the film. Du Welz really goes the extra mile to keep things fascinating, visually.

Nothing plotwise can really be said to be missing from the film and "Vinyan," flows without any noticeable continuity errors; however, the absence of music and long scenes without dialogue come off as far too bizarre. Scenes that could be answering questions, instead add in strange behaviours from the primary characters, who often stare at each other with expressionless, or minimalist features.

What is going on? This is a question many viewers might ask themselves and because of the many layers within "Vinyan," there will be endless possibilities for interpretation. Logically nothing breaks down in the film, but some of the unrealistic aspects of the film, could have been given a little more writing to focus the viewers attention.

Lighting, acting, and setting each set the slightly intense tone of "Vinyan," while adding beautiful visuals, that create for an entertaining, non-horrific, open-ended movie. Closing out the film, on some level with Paul's death the finale makes one say wow as the film, which mostly seems directionless, adds in one more twist than is completely unforeseeable. The cinematography of Thailand, in which the film was shot, is stunning and the acting is not only believable, but exceptional. Mostly in a sombre tone both central and supporting characters portray various emotions suitable to the experiences happening within the film. As well, the lighting in film, especially in several of the initial scenes is stellar. The greens, blues and reds in downtown Bangkok really come off as stark and unique. Also, the visual details of flashing police sirens adds another believable quality to the film, that creates for a more enjoyable viewing.

Polarizing viewers amongst those who love the film for its strange approach to storytelling and those who detest "Vinyan," for the sheer mundaneness of the execution, this film will evoke strong emotions during a viewing. Horror fiends will not find the gore satisfying, nor the delivery intense enough, but many others are sure to see the quality in Welz's ninety-six minute ghost experiment.

Available this week on DVD "Vinyan," is one film that must be seen by those looking for something outside the box of a formulaic horror film. Mostly in the tones of a ghost story, from the myths of a foreign land, "Vinyan," will likely ask more questions than it answers. Already the winner of one best film award "Vinyan," is definitely worth sitting through, one or more times, to find out what will happen next.

7.5 Leering Skulls out of 10.

Sources:

Interview with Du Welz at Bloody Disgusting

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