The Secret Life of Words (2005)

This is an interesting and thought-provoking drama in adequate length and yet with an air of naturalness and credibility . Including a dramatic and brooding screenplay by the same filmmaker . Hannah (Sarah Polley , Coixet wrote the role for her) is a factory worker who wears a hearing aid , she is forced to go on holiday , her first one in years . She doesn't want it and instead , Hannah arranges to find a job : caring for Josef (Tim Robbins who used contact lenses that damaged his eyes) , an injured oil rig worker who temporarily lost his sight . Hannah flies by helicopter to the oil rig (the name was Gaviota, but Coixet changed it into Genefke) . There she meets some workers , but is almost no one on the rig , except a cook (Javier Cámara) , an oceanographer and a few others . Good but downbeat and sad film in which stands out its moving finale . The film tells the touching story of two protagonists , conflicting trajectory of a hapless , introspective woman and a man whom she tends who is suffering from severe burns . She then slowly breaks her shell of silence and to be discovered a terrifying truth . This is a thought-provoking as well as pleasant flick filmed with great sensitivity and feeling . Interesting script by Isabel Coixet who wrote the role of Hannah with 'Sarah Polley' in mind , she knows very well inter-cross these two troublesome roles , a woman who have not been able to vanquish his dark past and suffering a fateful existence as well as a severely wounded rig worker . The picture is very engaging as well as provoking , though some infinite sadness follows the film at times . The flick moves in fits and starts most of which would be desirable , with some moments of enjoyment and others quite a few disconcerting . It's an intelligent and touching story although sometimes is slow moving and tiring but is finely developed with sense of style and sensibility . Enjoyable as well as intense drama filled with emotion , artistic scenes and plenty of sensitivity . The picture relies heavily on the unusual relationship among a unfortunate , frustrated nurse who has suffered a lot of past distresses and an understanding ill , but it doesn't makes boring , as it results to be entertaining . The film enjoys a breeze as well as moving final , and gives us much to think about it and in which doesn't deceive or dramatize unnecessarily . Along these lines , it is clear that writer/filmmaker Coixet tries to create an unforgettable picture . Apart from that , it has a touch Pedro Almodóvar , producer too , that always feels good . The picture is primarily supported by sensational players with good acting all around . All of them carry out their characters to perfection and show a look that says it all . As the excellent Sarah Polley as a hearing impaired who gives up her holiday and travels out to an oil rig , where she cares for a man and magnificent Tim Robbins as a burn victim on an accident . The support cast is frankly nice , such as : Reg Wilson , Steven Mackintosh , Eddie Marsan , Julie Christie , Danny Cunningham , Leonor Watling , many of them giving brief but agreeable interpretations . Special mention for Javier Cámara as a sympathetic cook . Emotive and stirring musical plenty of wonderful songs . Appropriate and evocative cinematography by Jean-Claude Larrieu . Most of the film locations are around an oil rig . Being shot on location as the oil rig used was the Borgholm Dolphin rig that was docked in Belfast at the time . Takes of the oil rig were shot in Belfast and Bilbao . Interior scenes were filmed in Navalcarnero (Madrid, Spain). The movie is dedicated the founder of IRCT -played by Julie Christie- . IRCT is an organization that promotes and supports the rehabilitation of torture victims and works for the prevention of torture worldwide . The motion picture was professional though slowly directed by Isabel Coixet . Here director Coixet mixes dull stretches with some really sensitive scenes . Coixet is an acclaimed Spanish filmmaker who has previously found international success with Elegy and The Secret Life of Words and she's the camera operator of her movies . Isabel never went to film school but she got a lot of education from commercials and really put in enough hours not to be in any way afraid of the camera . She founded her own production company , Miss Wasabi Films, in 2000 . And was member of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival in 2009 . Coixet has some fetish actresses who usually play his films , such as : Sarah Polley , Leonor Watling and Patricia Clarkson . Her filmography includes other feature films such as 'Cosas Que Nunca Dije' (Things I Never Told You) (1995), Elegy (2008), 'Mapa De Sonidos De Tokio' (Map of the Sounds of Tokyo) (2009), and the two latest 'Ayer No Termina Nunca' (Yesterday Never Ends) (2014) and 'Learning to Drive' (2013) and a thriller titled 'Another me' with Sophie Turner ; besides documentary films, shorts and commercials . And recent premiere in Berlin Festival of 'Nobody Wants the Night' (2015) starred by Juliette Binoche .

such a heart-warming,soothing, sweet and humane story held by 2 wonderful dedicated, honest and gracious actors. in fact I've never liked Tim robins and i haven't seen many of his films but his performance completely swept me off my feet and made me dream of him as the perfect man, a man who feels and understands the pain of others and quietly delves in and take it away, the actress playing Hannah is always great in dramatic roles but her she was beautiful in every scene and when she smiled in spite of her suffering she melted my heart and the ending was more than satisfying. i forgot to mention the minor characters who were absolutely amazing and fitting especially the cook

You'll be awarded deeply if you manage to sit through the first hour of this film, which make you understand humans on a greater level. Sarah Polley and Tim Robbins are making a great job, as the rest of the crew on this oil platform out in the North Sea.The film is slow, like the life out on a platform with only 7-8 men will be. The film is about human interaction, loneliness and the reasons for people's choices in life. And a lot more, like dark secrets, and why things turn out the way they do in life. And maybe some hidden that will never be revealed...Do people need to be left alone? Not for a minute, but for an entire life? Are some horrors making people in deep need of solitude? Is this a psychic reaction, felt necessary?The film goes from us watchers being uncaring and never-minded, to take on what good conversations might lead to. I don't think I should say more, but expect a story which will reward patience, and that there's nothing in this film which is not there for a reason.

Even though each character is surrounded by a shroud of mystery, somehow through these strange unfortunate events we are given the chance to know them better than anyone will. Forced to take holiday after years without taking a break, Hanna (played by Sara Polley) gives up her vacation to take care of a man severely burned on an oil rig. Honestly the plot comes second to the exploration into these amazingly complex characters. Every character has such a story to tell yet throughout most of the film we are only given small glimpses of who they really are. However, Hanna's guard is eventually let down and she reveals a shocking secret from her past that gives light to her being.Sara Polley has her most shining moments in cinema to date... Until this film, to me she was always that chick from 'Go'. Now she has crossed the line into a fine actress. Tim Robbins also does a great job, though I have come to expect just that from him. The supporting cast does not disappoint either and gives applaud-able performances all around.This is probably one of the most endearing and enthralling films where not much happens, however, because of the slow manner in which each character is revealed and miraculously developed I found myself demanding to know more during every second of each scene. 'The Secret Life Of Words' is a must see by those that favor strong character development and don't mind a slow moving film as long as its rewarding in the end.