Sunset Motel (2003) Reviews

• Feeling alive or not

  unbrokenmetal2007-08-26

  "Sunset Motel" tells the story of a young woman (Joanna Canton) falling in love with a handsome man (Sean Costello). He doesn't respond to her as much as she'd like him to, but she insists on this love. "Things seem to be a bit more colorful when he's there", she tells a casual friend. "I feel alive." They do spend a night or two together, but inevitably their relationship gets them both into trouble and arguments. Sounds very simple, but it's so well acted that you sympathize with the characters and that's what keeps you interested. The camera work is sometimes static to the extreme. For example, from 1:16 h to 1:23 h there is one shot that lasts whole 7 minutes without cut! Quite a challenge for the actors (who hopefully needn't repeat it too often), but for the audience it somehow works, I suppose because it's so personal, just like sitting in that very room to watch. I liked the movie, it was an experience as movies always should be, requires patience though.