As more devices are being made available for people to communicate with each other, the world is truly becoming smaller. I make it a point to learn a few words of greetings in different languages, so I can start a conversation with people from different backgrounds. It could be for a new member in one of my classes or recently, a sweet museum employee from Poland who shared her comments about one of my movie reviews. There seems to be more opportunities to connect with people around the world, discovering we are not so dissimilar. In this dramatic movie that spans four countries, the separate stories told have a common thread. Brad Pitt (Burn After Reading, Moneyball) as Richard Jones and his wife Susan, played by Cate Blanchett (The Lord of the Rings franchise, I’m Not There), were vacationing in Morocco as a way to reconnect to each other. Their plans were altered by a single bullet. In a separate story deaf Japanese teenager Chieko Wataya, played by Rinko Kikuchi (The Brothers Bloom, Norwegian Wood), was desperate for an emotional connection to her distant father Yasujiro, played by Koji Yakusho (Shall We Dance, The Eel). With two additional story lines, this movie did a beautiful job in revealing the themes of family and communication. I found each story had enough depth to stand alone as the actors did a touching performance with their characters. For having had such different stories the direction was done extremely well, avoiding the common confusion of multiple stories; I had no problem following them. By the end of this multi Oscar nominated film I was surprised and satisfied. Communication is the base where all relationships are born; listening is the glue that keeps them together. English subtitles when needed and scenes of violence and blood.

3 stars –DVD