Martha Marcy May Marlene

The other day, Husband and I watched Martha Marcy May Marlene. The film stars Elizabeth Olsen (yes, little sister of Mary Kate and Ashley) as a young woman who escapes from a cult in the Catskill mountains. In the opening scene, you see the men eat awkwardly in silence, then the women. It's strange, and even though you don't quite understand where you are or what's going on, you know it's creepy. The heroine steals away at daylight, the others chase her through the woods. Once finally in town, she calls someone on the phone in hysterics.

"Where are you?" the voices asks.

"Upstate," she manages to say through her tears. "I think."

The woman on the other end of the phone is Martha's sister, Lucy. Marcy May turns out to be name bestowed up on her by the cult leader, Patrick, played by John Hawkes (Winter's Bone).

The film bounces seamlessly back and forth between Martha with her sister, and flashbacks to her life in the cult. Slowly, very slowly, the details of Martha's past and two years with the cult unfold. I think that's what I admire about this film, and in the end what makes it so affecting: the restraint. Writer/Director Sean Durkin takes his time to reveal things to us, and earns every piece of the puzzle. By the time Martha's really losing it at her sister's house, we know exactly why.

I felt so sad for Lucy and her husband throughout this film. Martha tells them nothing--just alludes to an ex-boyfriend. She's been completely out of touch for two years. Lucy tries so hard. Even when Martha walks into their room when they are having sex, after Lucy's initial surprise and freak out, when she sees how upset Martha is, she becomes reasonable, exp

laining plainly: "It's private. Do you understand why this is not ok?" Then, Lucy puts her hand on Martha's head and tells her it's ok, to just go to sleep.

I was impressed with Elizabeth Olsen in this film. It couldn't have been an easy part to play. A vulnerable girl, brainwashed by a cult, not fully understanding what has happened to her. Her beauty is unusual and startling.

John Hawkes was also impressive. Freakishly thin, and evil, yet with a warmth about him that makes you understand why the cult members are drawn to him and worship him.

This movie is deeply disturbing. I recommend watching it early in the day, leaving enough time to do other things, remind yourself what happiness is. Husband and I watched it just before bed and both had tortured dreams. It sticks to you. I still can't stop thinking about it.