This was another film by a first time director, Michael Rowe, a Melbourne-born man, but this is not an Australian film, rather a Mexican film. In the film we follow Laura, who is a freelance journalist, and at the beginning of the film we see her mark the date of February 29th in red on her calendar. The date is significant as it is the day that her father died, four years ago, but does it have a different significance for Laura this year? It is fairly obvious that Laura plans to end her life on this date, because as we get to know her, we find out that she is very lonely (she lives alone), participates in a number of meaningless one-night stands, while watching her neighbours from her apartment window, imagining them as friends of hers. Also, while it isn’t explicitly explained, it is hinted at that Laura was also abused by her father.
In regards to the film, it is well made, but it goes into quite disturbing areas as Laura ends up having a relationship with one of these men who is heavily into S&M sex. The violence and degradation that is put upon Laura (which she is a willing participant in, just in an attempt to make a human connection with someone else) is often very disturbing and by the end, too hard to watch. Even though the film is well made, its subject matter turned me off, to the point that I was unable to get any enjoyment out of it.
A side note, the director introduced the film and was terrible, he just had no personality at all, which meant that I was not staying around to hear his Q&A after the screening. One final note, the performance of Monica del Carmen as Laura was very brave and quite amazing and the saving grace of this unlikable film.
2.5 Stars - Viewed at the 2010 Melbourne International Film Festival
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