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Trauma (2004 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Trauma' is a 2004 British psychological thriller film directed by Marc Evans and written by Richard Smith.
Plot
Ben (Colin Firth) awakens from a coma to discover his wife has been killed in a car accident. A few weeks later, Ben is out of the hospital and, attempting to start a new life, he moves home and is befriended by a beautiful young neighbour Charlotte (Mena Suvari). Haunted by visions of his dead wife, Ben starts to lose his grip on reality.
Cast
*Colin Firth as Ben
*Mena Suvari as Charlotte
*Naomie Harris as Elisa
*Sean Harris as Roland
*Neil Edmond as Mills
*Tommy Flanagan as Tommy
*Kenneth Cranham as Detective Constable Jackson
*Brenda Fricker as Petra
Critical reaction
The film is described by critics as a psychological thriller in the same vein as David Cronenberg,[http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/reviews/trauma.html "Trauma" Review] , 'Tiscali' 'Memento',Rich Cline, [http://www.shadowsonthewall.co.uk/04/trauma.htm "Trauma" Review], 'Shadows on the Wall' and 'Jacob's Ladder';David Nusair, [http://www.reelfilm.com/tiff0410.htm#trauma "Trauma" Review], 'Reel Films Reviews' however, most find that the film pales in comparison, with 'Eye Weekly' calling it "just another pretentious Jacob's Ladder knockoff.Jason Anderson, [http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_09.09.04/film/tiff.html "Trauma" Review] , 'Eye Weekly'" The film has been described as stylish, with 'iofilm' calling it "a triumph of style over content.[http://www.iofilm.co.uk/fm/t/trauma_2004.shtml "Trauma" Review] , 'iofilm - film inside out'" 'Shadows on the Wall' adds, "Evans fills the screen with... moody, atmospheric, and evocative visuals," and 'Filmcritic.com' says the film has "'The Ring'-inspired creepy imagery."Christopher Null, [http://filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/84dbbfa4d710144986256c290016f76e/24c475479245fa6a882570010016aab9?OpenDocument "Trauma" Review] , 'Filmcritic.com'
'Neil Young's Film Lounge' describes the film's visual in this way: "Evans (along with cinematographer John Mathieson, production-designer Richard Smith and editor Mags Arnold) tries desperately to jazz everything up, deploying all manner of distorted visuals - extreme camera angles and close-ups, plus over-atmospheric lighting effects and jagged cuts - in a strenuous attempt to get us into Ben's tormented state-of-mind."Neil Young, [http://www.jigsawlounge.co.uk/film/trauma.html "Trauma" Review], 'Film Loungue'
Colin Firth's performance is the most praised aspect of the film. "He delivers a performance which highlights the range of his considerable talent" cites one critic. 'eFilmCritic' says Firth "does the best with what he's given"Scott Weinberg, [http://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=8520&reviewer=128 "Trauma" Review], 'efilmcirtic.com' and 'iofilm' says, "Firth puts in a sterling performance in the central role." 'Reel Film Reviews' adds "Firth's performance, not surprisingly, is the best thing about the movie, and the actor does a nice job of portraying Ben's increasing paranoia."
Film festivals
'Listed Chronologically'*Sundance Film Festival
*Cannes Film Market
*Edinburgh Film Festival
*Toronto International Film Festival
*Lund Fantastisk Film Festival
*Athens Film Festival
*Grardmer Fantasticarts Film Festival
*Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Films
*Mnchen Fantasy Filmfest
References
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