Anything that happens today can result in disaster tomorrow. Such is the case in Alejandro Gonzalez's drama "Babel," as he takes the concept of a chain-reaction to epic proportions.
The film's abstract and philosophical plot is similar to that of Gonzalez's previously acclaimed feature "21 Grams." The storyline races around and keeps the audience's constant attention, steadily building up momentum as each story draws closer to its inevitable climax.
The film starts out in the heat of the Moroccan desert where a cattle rancher buys a high-powered rifle and entrusts it to his two sons in hopes that they will use it to kill jackals attacking their herd. While attempting to test the rifle's range, one of the boys foolishly shoots at a tour bus traveling down the road.
The bullet ends up seriously injuring an American tourist named Susan (Cate Blanchett, "Little Fish"). Far from any hospital or medical help, her husband Richard (Brad Pitt, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith") struggles to keep her alive.
Hundreds of miles away in San Diego, Richard and Susan's maid Amelia (Adriana Barraza, "Amores Perros") is watching over their two children in the time of crisis, but she has her own son's wedding to attend in Mexico.
The third interlocking storyline portrays the life of a teenage girl who is deaf and mute named Chieko (Rinko Kikuchi, "Naisu no mori: The First Contact"). The newcomer plays the role of the troubled teen struggling with the tribulations of adolescence with nobody to turn to besides her emotionally distant father.
The film comes together as it becomes clearer and clearer how the lives of each group of characters influence each other despite distance and lack of communication. The title of the movie stems from the inability of the characters to communicate on a universal scale, hence the name "Babel," an allusion to the ancient biblical story of the tower built to unite mankind.
"Babel" vividly illustrates how one careless act can set off a chain of events that tragically impacts multiple lives. Although this same type of plot was utilized in the motion picture "Crash," that attempt pales in comparison to the tragic message that "Babel" delivers.
The random shifting of scenes keeps the viewer on the edge the seat with frustrated tension. Although the film lacks any particularly inspiring character quotes, the strength of the storyline serves as a substitute for this shortcoming.
The film faces opposition in the box office amidst a barrage of more publicized movies that seem to be on everyone's must-see list. Despite the stiff competition, this moving tale of global mis-communication is likely to strike a chord with viewers when it opens in theaters this Friday.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
