In the basement of a small episcopal church, two couples afflicted by the same tragedy meet for the first time.
We would swear that Mass is taken from a play. This is due to the construction of the story, to the way in which the characters interact, to the grandiose performances of the actors, visibly delighted to be able to modulate such a beautiful score, drawn from a story directly connected to human nature.
However, no. Fran Kranz, heretofore mainly known as an actor (the series Dollhouse, The Cabin in the Woods), wrote an original script, which he himself brings to the screen by going behind the camera for the very first time. He effectively stages his text, essentially leaving room for performers on whom discreet camera movements slide.
From the start, the filmmaker echoes the gravity of the moment when a social worker comes to inspect the place where the meeting will take place between the two couples. The atmosphere is breathtaking and already distills unease, despite the best wishes of the hosts of the small episcopal church where a basement room has been reserved. Don’t take out the buffet for nothing, no one will go hungry.
Then the two couples arrive. Gail (Martha Plimpton) and Jay (Jason Isaacs) on one side of the table, Linda (Ann Dowd) and Richard (Reed Birney) on the other. We first exchange banalities because we do not really know how to initiate the real conversation. The spectator feels that a terrible drama binds these foreigners, but it will nevertheless be necessary to wait a little to learn its nature. And the details that characterize it.
Mass Thus borrows the form of a confrontation between people who have experienced the same tragedy in a different way, but whose suffering is common and the wound is still so vivid. Strewn with heartbreaking moments, this feature film tackles difficult themes and is essentially based on dialogues, which are honored by four actors at the top of their art.
In theaters in original English version
Drama
Mass
Fran kranz
With Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton, Ann Dowd
1 h 50
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