– The author uses contrast very well – for most of the story we observe three related, although very different personalities. However, what catches our attention the most is the main character, Nora. Although Nora is silent most of the time – writes our reviewer, who went to see the film by the French director. “Dorlis” is one of 149 short films that the selected for this year’s edition of LFF
How does a person change when one is deprived of the ability to manage their own life, when their dignity, dreams and joy are all taken away from them? What will this person be thinking about? What will happen to the worldview of a person who has been treated as an object simply because of someone’s needs?
The director, Enricka MH, tries to answer these very difficult questions in her film “Dorlis”. It tells the story of a young girl who, together with her younger sister and mother, comes to the north of Martinique to take care of her grandfather, who is partially paralyzed after a stroke. Being in the presence of a man brings back difficult memories for her.
Gradually, the plot reveals the main character to us – timid in the face of male characters, angry at the world that was unable to protect her, furious at her tormentor. We see a very traumatized and weakened personality, but at the same time very strong and determined not to let the younger sister experience what she went through.
The author uses contrast brilliantly – for most of the story we observe three related, although very different personalities. We see the heroine’s younger sister – a little girl who, without taking off her “rose-colored glasses”, enjoys the world and tirelessly explores it. We see her mother – a concerned adult, torn between work and family. She is very similar to her younger daughter, she tries not to despair, wants to solve problems, live and see only good things. However, what catches our attention the most is the main character – Nora.
The director seems to be saying to the viewers: Look! Look how one person can change! She simply lived, discovered the world, struggled with routine problems, learned about life, fell in love, and was happy! But because of another person’s desire, she is the way she is right now and she will remain this way. And it’s your fault! It’s the fault of the world that couldn’t protect her, that doesn’t believe her!
Nora is changing. She is no longer a defenseless little girl who can be hurt. She is an adult, she tries to protect the weaker, she seeks revenge, but when she gets close to the perpetrator, she does not take revenge. She realizes that she doesn’t want to be like him, she doesn’t want to act like him. She will never let the past repeat itself, but she will also never be able to return to her old life.
And although Nora is silent most of the time throughout the entire film, her story screams at us, asking us to believe her, asking us to understand.
Yurii Boiko