REVIEW - KEEP THE LIGHTS ON

The things we do for love. I admire films like Keep the Lights On, films which have faith that the audience will discern the full meaning of a moment left seemingly incomplete by the filmmakers, read between the lines, hear not only what is said but what is not said, and also what is meant. The people in this film do not merely speak idiomatically, they speak realistically, not always verbalising their thoughts in the most succinct, articulate way, communicating their case in great detail by means of trite, cliched dialogue - that is, if you attune your mind to what is not said as well, and what is meant. And there's so much to communicate, yet through a fizzing combination of great acting, writing and directing, the emotional intricacies of each instant are comprehensively navigated. The acting, writing and directing achieve this by cutting so close to the bone that this feels like real life - not a documentary, no, the opposite, in fact, as there's no self-awareness in any form. The earnestness of Ira Sachs' screenplay and of the performances of the cast, and the directness of his direction give this the impression of a literally palpable experience. Of course, as it is an interpretation of events in Sachs' life, there's an obvious reason behind the sincerity in Keep the Lights On, but the openness of it is a sign of bravery and artistic integrity more than anything else (perhaps other than plain talent!). In relating it to one's own life, it develops an air of poignancy; I felt that it wasn't so much that I could empathise with the characters but that the authenticity of it alone struck some place deep within my heart. And this is all accomplished with an uncommon lack of sentimentality - what Sachs shows and tells is not the whole of the picture, what we make of it completes this film. It's supreme work. The camera's intimate close-ups contribute further intensity, there's a scene in a hotel room that tore me right up, and the lead actors are extraordinary - Thure Lindhardt delivers as candid and meticulous a performance as you'll see for some time.