Nov 28 2013 – The morning rituals families undergo to get everyone out the door are unique to each and every household. Ingrained patterns of behaviour from washroom routines to breakfast choices become an after-thought at the sound of the morning alarm. Like a well-oiled machine, the gears of family life shift forward. But, remove one vital part of this well-oiled machine and the family that is . . . becomes the family that was. Healing takes time. Writer / Director and Actor Leland Orser dissects the quiet torment of a family living with loss and the individual journeys they take to find acceptance in the powerful new movie, ‘Morning’.
All is not well in the Munroe household as Mark (Leland Orser – “ER”, Taken) and Alice (Jeanne Tripplehorn – “Big Love, Criminal Minds”), are living disconnected lives due to the tragic loss of their son. The opening volley of scorn heaped on Mark by Alice plays out to destructive consequences after the 6:30 am alarm. A couple that should be stronger together, now separated in grief, take divergent paths as their purpose in life gets derailed. Mark’s regression becomes child-like as his coping mechanism of choice is eating Fruit Loops cereal in a kiddie bowl, playing hooky from work and enjoying a Cowboys and Indians play-date with the son he doesn’t have. Self-medication becomes his go to fix as copious amounts of pills are his new elixir.
Alice doesn’t fare much better as her preoccupation with loss has etched a stony demeanour on her expressionless face that protects her from the realities of life. Constant reminders of the son she lost have kept Alice in a semi lucid state of despair. The gaps in her recollection of the tragedy have her questioning her fitness as a mother. Tripplehorn delivers a strong heady performance with a doe-eyed conviction that elicits an unbroken state of confusion. Unannounced flashes of anger snap her back to some new and distant form of reality. The counterpoint to all this heavy is the neurotic scene stealing Mary (Julie White), the multi-tasking micro-managing, bubble to the top best friend who delivers much needed levity to the heart of this narrative. Orser has taken the path less travelled in writing characters that don’t fall into the standard tropes one comes to expect in a drama dealing with loss. The result is a refreshing character study on multiple levels.
By layering an intricate introspective narrative highlighting a family dynamic hobbled by grief, Orser shows his command and understanding of the material before him. An effect use of grainy flashback sequences revealing snippets of happier times provide a strong counterpoint to the torturous conditions before us. Amidst all this upheaval, equal time is given to show the day-to-day service commitments attached to the world that is the Munroe household. Their old world housekeeper Lluvia (Gina Morelli), divides her days between cleaning and taking up vigil for this broken family. Solid performances by the supporting cast including, Laura Linney, Elliott Gould, Kyle Chandler, Charlie McDermott and Jason Ritter.
Verdict: 3.5 out of 5: Given the weighty subject matter Director, Leland Orser, took great pains to hit the right tonal notes with each character. Conventional wisdom frequently dictates that narratives depicting a family dealing with loss usually bonds together in grief. Orser breaks with convention allowing the story to reveals personal issues confronting each character in a raw and unfiltered way. Telling the story in separate chapters each beginning with an early morning wake up serves as the catalyst from which all things happen. At times, the movie can be a little too stingy with the dialogue and even more so with the camera work. That being said, Morning still delivers an impressive piece of drama.
Final Thought: This morning eventually becomes a good morning.
Advocacy Links:
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: www.camh.com
Bereaved Families of Ontario – Toronto: www.bfotoronto.ca
Genre: Drama
County: USA
Language: English
Director: Leland Orser
Writer: Leland Orser
Producer(s): Todd Traina, Minor Childers
Music: Michael Brook
Release Date: September, 2013
Runtime: 95 Minutes
Cast: Jeanne Tripplehorn, Laura Linney, Elliott Gould, Leland Orser, Gina Morelli, Julie White, Charlie McDermott
