What an excellent Film!

I watched “Fractured,” at the Maple Theater and was blown away! I was also baffled to learn that “Fractured,” was shot in only twelve days! The film used intensity of effect to develop a vividly striking and an emotionally engaging original product. The film also conveyed a phenomenal story and although the film was complex, it created a multiplicity of relations among elements, and it shaped intriguing patterns of emotional exploration and symbolism. The director (Lance Kawas) is able to brilliantly navigate the plotline, webs of storylines and emotionally charged performances into a “eureka” moment and surprising twist at the end that unfolds in the viewers mind even after the movie; he’s definitely a person to “watch” in this industry.

First of all, each of the actors embodied the essence of his or character. Athena Lebessis’ psychologically charged performance had a poignant effect on my being. Firstly, Athena does a remarkable job depicting a highly sensitive woman who is psychologically unstable and severely depressed. The last scene of (May) crying over her lover/escapism in the white room is emotionally gripping. The three women that attack the protagonist are also phenomenal, alongside the doctor’s wife Barbara! (Lauren Shafer, Jordan Trovillion, Ariel Carlson and Shena Adl). All of these women deliver realistic and emotionally charged performances, kudos to the director (Lance Kawas) for extracting these dramatic pieces of raw emotional expression.

Furthermore, I loved the endless symbolism in this film. For instance, the use of the number three was intriguing. Overall, this number symbolized the three tortuous women attacking the timorous protagonist. However, this number was injected into the storyline to reiterate the three evil souls attacking May. This symbolism is seen in the three hats placed in May’s apartment in a straight line, in the three golf balls May collects before discovering the empty grave, and most importantly in the three essences of May (Gina, Maddy and Bella). I also loved that the protagonist’s clothing got progressively darker as the film reached the climax, symbolizing her transformation into a more depressed state of being. In addition, I also adored how all of the characters color stories were carried in the film, right through to the end, as seen in the nurses/doctors attire. The colors represented the levels of evil; for instance Gina wore black and Barbara wore hints of red. Maddy and Bella wore grey to symbolize a possible lure to the dark side or to the light; they were in a “grey area.” However, the director interplayed these bold colors with white to symbolize the fight between good and evil. Ultimately, the impact of color created a new emotional response by associating the colors with different meanings; the symbolism of color was beautifully executed.

Overall, this film is for an intellectual audience due to its complex storyline, layered intrigue and intricate symbolism. I really respected this art piece and as a film student it inspired me greatly. It’s the type of film one must experience more than once! I’ve already experienced it thrice and am continually discovering new meanings!