3 of 13

Write now Article Tools

The film Babel, directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, connects a series of seeming unrelated people and events. The film begins with a scene in Morocco, in which a goat herder purchases a powerful rifle to keep the jackals away from his herd. An American husband and wife by the names of Richard and Susan Jones, portrayed by Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, are vacationing in Morocco to try to heal a rift in their marriage sparked by the death of their infant child. Meanwhile, their two remaining young children are back home, being cared for by their Mexican nanny and housekeeper, Amelia.

A problem develops when the Jones are unable to be home in time for the wedding of Amelia's son, which is to take place in Mexico. Unable to find anyone else to watch them, Amelia decides to take the children with her and her nephew, Santiago.

While traveling on a tour bus, Susan Jones is shot by one of the sons of the Moroccan goat herder from a long distance. Nobody understands how this has happened, and terrorism is suspected.

The film moves to Japan and a seemingly unrelated series of events. A young deaf girl becomes upset when her team loses a basketball game. She is struggling with difficulties in her relationship with her father, the death of her mother and her budding sexuality.

Soon we learn the connection between the Americans, the Moroccans and the Japanese. The father of the deaf girl had given the rifle as a gift to the Moroccan man who sold it to the goat herd.

Meanwhile, Amelia discovers that crossing back into the United States wasn't anywhere near as easy as leaving it. The police try to stop Santiago, and question whether he's drunk. He asks Amelia for the parents' letters of permission for the children to cross the border; of course, she hasn't got any. Santiago suddenly drives off and then abandons Amelia and the two small children in the desert, where they come close to death.

This film seems to explore how interconnected we are. Even people who are far removed from one another across the globe often have some connection unbeknownst to themselves. However, the director's purpose was to express how we tend to fail to communicate, and I think he failed in that purpose. This film was nominated for several awards at the Oscars, but only won one; the award for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score.

I found this film unsatisfying. It was very violent and perverse. The young Moroccan boy who shot the American woman was also spying on

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Movie reviews: Babel?
We want to hear your view. Write now!