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ROOM
[2015, Canada, Ireland, UK - English]

“This is not a horrifying film. The story we’re telling is about the extraordinary power of parent-child love,” author Emma Donoghue shared about her 2010 bestselling novel Room, and its adaptation into the gripping drama film (of the same title) which she wrote the screenplay as well. In the novel, the story is told from the point of view of five year-old Jack, who has spent his entire life kidnapped in a 10-by-10-ft garden shed with his mother. We all know about the nightmares when filmmakers attempt to translate celebrated novels onto the big screens, very few had actually succeeded. Donoghue was aware that her novel had become great inspiration to many women, mothers (especially single mothers), female victims, and many of her fans actually wanted more of “Ma”, even requesting for a prequel or a parallel narrative. So in a way, the 2015 film adaptation to me shifted the anchoring perspective and created the opportunity for “Ma” to step forward more. This can be a good or bad thing, as one of the main selling-points of the novel was how readers are deeply moved by experiencing the storyline from the cherubic, fragile and beguiling world of a five year-old. Some may want to hold on to that, which will not be the case in Lenny Abrahamson’s film. For me, the adaptation came off accomplished.

Although in a different way, it remains thoroughly absorbing and the performances by Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay are equally compelling. Being the slowest reader that I am, there are not many instances where I have the liberty to review a film with the knowledge from having read the novel version prior. Room is one of them, and I’m glad the film did not disappoint.

Regardless of its success, the film is far from an easy watch. Ma, or her real name Joy, is kept prisoner in the garden shed for seven years, consistently raped by her captor, Old Nick. It's into this oppressive and inadequate world that Jack has been born, as Ma devotes every second of her life in making him happy, creating their very own universe within the confined space, protecting him from the cold, brutal truth. Watching Jack living his entire life in the room with Ma, being the only "world" he knows, interacting with the only friends he has, the wardrobe, the lamp, the rug, can be really heartbreaking. Soon the time comes when Ma realises that she can no longer fully safeguard Jack's well-being and his psychological vulnerability is spreading like a ticking time-bomb. 

Working from a screenplay by Donoghue herself, Abrahamson delivers the story with precision, both visually and psychologically. Donoghue absolutely nailed her adaptation, transforming her poignant tale into a different format, yet sufficiently, if not equally, gripping. There are several differences which did not deter the film from staying true to its source. The narration of Ma and Jack's lives prior the escape is definitely shorter, where the novel spends more time on how Ma constructs Jack's "world" in detail. There are lesser characters, giving Grandma and Leo (Step Grandpa) more focus in the film. Ma's rotten tooth kept by Jack as his "courage" also receives a different treatment, but I shall not elaborate further (no spoilers, of course). One of the strengths of Room is how it moves from grim to inspiring, the limited space will against all odds translate a powerful, gargantuan message.

Rating : A

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