Rust and Bone - 2 smiles

The main problem with “Rust and Bone” is that the narrative’s protagonist is Ali (Matthias Schoenaerts), a totally unsympathetic character, rather than Stephanié (Marion Cotillard), a victim of a killer whale attack. It is Stephanié‘s journey from self-sufficient young woman to a physically and emotionally shattered victim to someone revived in her discovery that life can still be good despite her handicaps that is most affecting. Unfortunately, her story takes a backseat to the more obvious melodrama of the man who becomes her confidante and sex buddy, a ne’er-do-well struggling to become a father. Throughout most of the film, Ali is a blank slate. He is neither likable nor charismatic enough for us to care what happens to him. He consistently stays at a distance even though he is the central character. On the other hand, Cotillard as the more complex Stephanié is a far better actor than Schoenaerts and a focus on her story might have resulted in a narrative with more impact. And for a movie that moves slowly (almost meanders) through Stephanié and Ali’s lives, the ending seems rushed and confusing.

With his five-year-old son Sam (Armand Verdure) in tow, Ali (Schoenaerts) leaves Belgium to live with his estranged sister (Corinne Masero) and her husband in France. Ill equipped as a father, he leaves his son with her and gets a job as a club bouncer, where he meets Stephanié during an altercation. She is an orca trainer at the local Marine Land and, when she loses her legs during a freak accident, it is Ali who comes to her rescue when all else seems hopeless. They explore a sexual relationship as Ali begins to make money fighting in back-alley brawls. Ultimately, it will take a near-fatal accident with Sam for Ali to realize what’s important in his life. “Rust and Bone” provides some insightful moments, but it’s ultimately hard to like. Subtitles. 12/29/12