Letter to the Editor

by Carol Young

I usually don’t respond to critics’ opinions of movies. I read, I agree or disagree and I move on. But I had to respond to Susan Sackett’s review of In the Bedroom lest anyone use this review as a basis to miss this wonderful and moving film.

I saw this movie on its opening day, before I read any reviews or formed any opinions of what to expect. I did not find a movie that “dragged”. What I found was an enthralling character study that showed fully and completely how life events can not only change a person’s behavior, it can change a person’s whole being.

How the characters reacted to the events kept me mesmerized for the length of the film. The “[l]ong silent moments” were heart-breaking for me. They painfully depicted how emotions can be shouted out through body language and quiet. Those moments made me squirm because they were so powerful.

Perhaps it’s the therapist in me. I find it fascinating to watch the impact of life’s events on humans, to see how emotions can impact their personalities and their relationships . “In the Bedroom” depicts this process brilliantly.