Joe Cinque's Consolation is a haunting drama that follows the story of Joe Cinque, a young civil engineer who is found dead in his apartment in Canberra in 1997. Joe is originally from Italy and has come to Canberra to study. He meets Anu Singh, a law student from Fiji, and they fall in love. However, Anu is mentally unstable, and her obsession with death eventually leads her to plan Joe's murder.
The film is based on the best-selling book of the same name by Helen Garner, which tells the true story of Joe and Anu. The movie begins with Anu buying a large amount of Rohypnol, a powerful sedative, and announcing her plan to kill Joe at a dinner party with her friends. Her friends are shocked but do nothing to stop her. Anu then slowly poisons Joe over several days, even though he is aware of her plan and begs her to stop.
Maggie Naouri plays Anu Singh, and her performance is incredible. She portrays Anu as a complex character with a range of emotions. At times, Anu is charming and funny, but she can also be manipulative and cruel. Naouri captures the essence of Anu's mental illness and makes the audience feel sympathy for her, despite her horrific actions.
Jerome Meyer gives a stunning performance as Joe Cinque. He portrays Joe as a kind and loving person who is trying to understand Anu's illness. Meyer captures Joe's confusion and fear as he slowly realizes that Anu intends to kill him. Sacha Joseph plays Madhavi, Anu's friend who is the only person who tries to stop her. Joseph is excellent in her role, bringing a sense of moral conflict to her character.
The film is directed by Sotiris Dounoukos, who does an excellent job of capturing the tension and horror of the story. The film is shot in a stark, documentary style that adds to the realism of the story. The film is set in Canberra in the '90s, and Dounoukos captures the atmosphere of the time perfectly.
One of the most striking aspects of the movie is the way it explores the themes of mental illness and misogyny. Anu is clearly suffering from a mental illness, but the film does not excuse her actions. Instead, it portrays her illness as a complex and difficult issue that needs to be treated seriously. The film also explores the way society treats women who are mentally ill. Anu is repeatedly dismissed by doctors and friends who do not take her illness seriously. The film highlights the need for better mental health services and a more compassionate attitude towards those who are struggling.
Overall, Joe Cinque's Consolation is a powerful and gripping film that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled. It is a harrowing look at the consequences of mental illness and the devastating effects it can have on those around us. The film also raises important questions about our attitudes towards women and mental illness and highlights the need for better understanding and support.
Joe Cinque's Consolation is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes.
It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1.
