None of the reviews I read (on Netflix) before seeing the film hand mentioned this movie being based on true events-- a noteworthy fact given the disturbing storyline... Either way, this film is definitely not for everyone. It's about deeply troubled people. It's VERY dark & very cold, made even more so by the meticulous art direction, camera work and editing.
The cast is terrific, with a heartbreaking performance by Maria Bello who tackles her character with perfect emotional tone and tempo. It's a tough role precisely because it's so disturbing, and if overacted or otherwise played wrong, the character could become unlikeable, maudlin or self-indulgent. Bello manages to be none of these things. I didn't find the sex scenes gratuitous, or as one critic called it, "soft-porn". I felt the scenes were in fact appropriately restrained. And there were many tender moments and much pathos throughout the film, including in some of the S&M scenes.
As for the question of why Nancy simply didn't leave the marriage, she herself explains this when confronted by Louis with the same question. This is not the story of a woman with normal problems, marital or otherwise. This is the story of a woman who as was sexually abused as a child by her uncle, and for a long time. With a mother who only exacerbated that emotional damage by blaming Nancy for the abuse. As is typical of many sexual-abuse victims, Nancy translated the abuse into "being loved", which compelled her to long for it in subsequent relationships. The therapy she finally seeks is too-little/too-late for someone with her type and degree of emotional disturbance.
I was okay with the ending and am glad they didn't decide to lighten things up and make it more commercially viable by going for a "happy ending" and having Nancy live happily ever after with Louis. That would be too Hollywood. The sad truth is that, in real life, some people simply can't overcome the pain of such prolonged and heinous abuse, and some end up choosing death over life as the ultimate release from unbearable pain...
The cast is terrific, with a heartbreaking performance by Maria Bello who tackles her character with perfect emotional tone and tempo. It's a tough role precisely because it's so disturbing, and if overacted or otherwise played wrong, the character could become unlikeable, maudlin or self-indulgent. Bello manages to be none of these things. I didn't find the sex scenes gratuitous, or as one critic called it, "soft-porn". I felt the scenes were in fact appropriately restrained. And there were many tender moments and much pathos throughout the film, including in some of the S&M scenes.
As for the question of why Nancy simply didn't leave the marriage, she herself explains this when confronted by Louis with the same question. This is not the story of a woman with normal problems, marital or otherwise. This is the story of a woman who as was sexually abused as a child by her uncle, and for a long time. With a mother who only exacerbated that emotional damage by blaming Nancy for the abuse. As is typical of many sexual-abuse victims, Nancy translated the abuse into "being loved", which compelled her to long for it in subsequent relationships. The therapy she finally seeks is too-little/too-late for someone with her type and degree of emotional disturbance.
I was okay with the ending and am glad they didn't decide to lighten things up and make it more commercially viable by going for a "happy ending" and having Nancy live happily ever after with Louis. That would be too Hollywood. The sad truth is that, in real life, some people simply can't overcome the pain of such prolonged and heinous abuse, and some end up choosing death over life as the ultimate release from unbearable pain...