:: LIMBO

John Sayles, fiercely independent and passionately original, directs a movie of an unconventional character study, which takes place in a rather remote settlement in Alaska. Having only seen two previous Sayles films (Lone Star and Men With Guns), it’s difficult to make a full comparison to his previous works, but he seems to have stretched even his own limits in demanding concentration and awareness by the viewer.
The setting comprises men who fish and women who clean the fish. Joe Gastineau (David Strathairn) has lived in the town for many years and he embarks on a relationship with Donna De Angelo (Mary Elizabeth Mastrontonio) who has recently moved into town with her troubled daughter Noelle (Vanessa Martinez). Donna is a lounge singer and a journeywoman. She appears to change lovers as much as the towns she visits. She looks towards Joe as maybe the right man for her at last. Her daughter has a crush on Joe that adds to the interest. There is a nice spark and chemistry between Strathairn and Mastrontonio however. Behind this lies the mystery of some horrific accidents that have occurred in the town. It is against this scenario that, once the relationship between Joe and Donna is established, Joe’s half-brother Bobby (Casey Siemaszko) enters the fray and recruits Joe for a specific sea voyage for a mysterious purpose. Joe takes Donna and Noelle on board, yet the trip goes wrong and we get to discover what limbo means.
The second half of the film provides the emotional impact for the three main characters. The acting is intense and director Sayles tackles the deep, emotional issues in leading to a typically unconventional ending. In his blatant disregard for normality, Sayles provides another talking point, one that will concentrate on whether everything was unravelled correctly, or whether it was perfect. Those viewers willing to interpret, and not rest with a neat finish, will be thinking about Limbo for some time.
The performances deserve great credit. David Strathairn’s mannerisms tell much, while Mary Elizabeth Mastrontonio does a worthy job in the singing sequences. Vanessa Martinez gives an eye-catching performance as a troubled girl sensing isolation. It’s worth noting that Strathairn and Martinez have worked for Sayles previously. John Sayles cares again for his characters and tells a moving story, which will challenge the viewer for the deeper meaning. It may leave some people asking for more.