Wonderful Movie

One of my all time favorites.

Admirable film.

There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

If you were sexually abused as a child or teen, this movie could cause flashbacks or, in my case, downright sickness.To me it was unrealistic as to what the effects of that abuse can be--but then I realized who am I to judge how another abused child would react or behave as an adult? At the same time I cannot imagine a victim kissing her aviser.

It was a good attempt to see the often repeated topic of child abuse out of different perspective, but it surely was not an easy task as the film needed to be careful not to defend abuse or make something good out of it. Most of the time it succeed there were however other times when I founded it unrealistic and actually pathetic. Those were just a few minor moments or reactions of the characters. Generally it is a 2 actors show and in that way very theatrical. Rooney Mara is very good in the lead role. Its not her best performance but it is a very adequate turn of a broken woman that is looking for answers and feels her whole life being undesirable. Ben Mendelsohn is the confer part was also very good - if not even better. I think he had the more difficult character to play as neither the audience nor the character nor probably Mendelsohn himself really could determine the darkest corners of this person. Nice little supporting turn by Riz Ahmed and generally a fine screenplay make this very worthwhile to watch. It serves as a nice showcase for two great actors.

I couldn't see it thoroughly. Had to fast forward some endless scenes with nothing to add. Hole plot. Ridicullous flash backs over and over and over again. I couldn't believe. The pace was all wrong. The music...tedious! The dialogues all the same. Same questions. Same answers. It just never ended. Awful movie. While the theme is thick and dense, the exploitation of it is barely done. The movie made me fall asleep several times. Avoid this one.

Tackling a difficult and sensitive subject on film is very brave, and also important in showing how awful sexual abuse is and the damaging effects it leaves on the victims. While a difficult subject, generally, due to the amount of ignorance and generalisations it garners (with victim blaming for example), it needs to be addressed more.Like my fairly recent (a couple of months ago) viewing of 'The Girl in the Book', 'Una' is a tough watch but overall very rewarding, being beautifully done and emotionally powerful. Based on David Harrower's play 'Blackbird', although not a victim of sexual abuse, 'Una' really resonated with me and shows no signs of being afraid to show the full effects and not trivialise it. It also captures the claustrophobia of the play so that there is plenty of tension, but does it in a way that opens things out and not make it feel stage-bound (a danger with films/television translated from plays).'Una' is not flawless. It does drag somewhat in the middle act and the shifts from past to present day to start with are not always clear. Otherwise, there is very little wrong with it and it does a huge amount right.It's a good-looking film, being very nicely and atmospherically shot and lit. The music is never intrusive or too low-key, it doesn't overbear the drama while still having presence and in no way does it feel inappropriate.Benedict Andrews directs with a suspenseful touch, passion for the subject and potent realism, he doesn't allow the film to hold back nor does he allow it to go overboard with the unsubtle. 'Una' is not always subtle but that is not an issue, the subject itself isn't subtle either. The script is taut and poignant, with the confrontation between the present day Una and Ray having so much harrowing truth.What really makes 'Una' particularly good are the storytelling and performances. The story may drag in the middle at times, but the final act is electrifying and logical, not trivialising the effects of the abuse like the final act of 'The Girl in the Book' did and rings true far more. The confrontation is particularly harrowing while the main characters' thoughts, darkest desires and motivations are just as frightening, complex and difficult to fathom. On the most part, the past (through flashbacks) and present day time-lines are structured clearly and beautifully intertwined.Rooney Mara and Ben Mendelssohn's performances are positively on blistering fire, particularly Mara, while that of Ruby Stokes is also hard to forget in the best of ways.In conclusion, not quite one of my favourites of the year or ever, but powerful and brave film and that it was not an easy watch, considering the subject it's portraying, worked in its favour rather than against it. 8/10 Bethany Cox