Louder Than Bombs (2015)
One of those films that are intriguingly frustrating. To a degree at least. It is very drifty, incoherent and without a clear focus. The main focal point appears to be the death of Isabelle Huppert’s character, a well renowned war photographer, and how her husband and two sons deal with that. It is about that, but it is also about a myriad of other things. Mostly about the sons relationship with their father and the dynamics between the two brothers. They all have their own flaws, issues and skeletons in the closet. It is all somewhat messy, but I think it reflects a more authentic human experience. While they have all suffered a tragedy with the loss of their mother and spouse, their lives doesn’t stop. There will still be tons of things going on. However, these three also have pretty much going on that is way beyond the normal level of a slightly dysfunctional family.
Trier has a film that allows for the viewer to put whatever they want into the mix. There are plenty of takeaways and everyone will likely get something different out of it, which for some will likely mostly be frustration on how messy and inconclusive everything is. I tend to like films that frustrate me in a good way, and I sort liked this, but not to an extent where I think it is going to be a film that will stay with me for very long.
Rating: 3.5