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Review

The lives of several groups of disparate strangers converge through a horrific accident and soul-numbing loss. Director Inarritu interweaves moments in time, traveling from past and present, character to character; arranging puzzle pieces into a meditative mosaic on human interconnectness, individual frailty and the crushing force of irreversible tragedy. Watts, Del Toro and Penn bring raw exposure to their characters' circumstances: the wife and mother who finds herself widowed and childless in an instant, one man whose attempts to construct a meaningful life are shattered in a single moment, and another man whose need for a donated organ makes him a reluctant benefactor of the profound grief of others. Inarritu's trademark multilayered construction is at times distracting, but never to the point of dilutuing the film's powerful impact. A stark visual sense and compelling performances from the entire ensemble create a thoughtful contemplation on the mystery and transience of human existence, the ravages of tragic loss and the saving grace which can bless the human spirit in times of crisis. It's said the human body loses 21 grams at the moment of death. This film measures the full extent of that loss, the poisonous effects of personal devastation and the healing power of forgiveness and reconciliation. It does so by delivering a compelling portrait of ordinary human beings in extraordinary conditions.

 -- Ann Yarabinee