Cinema Verdict Review: Nora’s Will

Nora’s Will

OPENING: 10/08/2010 (Selected cities)

STUDIO: Cacerola Films

RUN TIME: 92m

ACCOMPLICES:
Trailer, Official Site

The Charge
Can’t we just get along?

Opening Statement
Originally titled 5 Days Without Nora, this Mexican sensation has received several awards in its own country, but has gone relatively unnoticed in the U.S. Nora’s Will is a bittersweet drama about a man forced to look at his own character and how he affects the people around him. The film is tender, touching, and has a good share of laughs to break up the dark tone.

Facts of the Case
Jose delivers groceries to the home of his ex-wife of twenty years Nora, only to learn that she has just committed suicide. Because of Jewish practices during the time of Passover, Nora must be buried that day or wait nearly five days until after Passover to do so. Since their son Ruben and his family is away, Jose chooses to wait and thus begins his babysitting of the body. Jose, aggravated by the religious practices of those around him, soon learns that the burial will not be a simple matter, since Jewish customs forbid suicide victims from being buried in a normal fashion. This is a major inconvenience to the mourning family, who want nothing more than to find a resting place for the body. Jose wants a quick and easy ceremony, but his apathetic beliefs conflict with those around him. Ironically, this is all part of Nora’s will, to bring the family together, even if in a time of sadness.

The Evidence
Although Nora’s Will is the debut film by Mexican filmmaker Mariana Chenillo, the film is far from dead and lifeless as the Facts of the Case might suggest. Chenillo takes the familiar premise of the troubled family and creates a warm and tender story, told with much emotion and never hurried. The film begins with Nora carefully setting up the table for what we can see will be an elaborate Passover meal. Every utensil is perfectly aligned and the china is the utmost quality, showing the meticulous nature of a character who will soon be absent from the rest of the picture. Shortly after the table is ready, Nora swallows several bottles of pills, thus ending her own life before the beginning of the Passover celebration. This is no coincidence, as Nora knew that her own death would force the family together. Well, for at least a little while. Within hours, Nora’s home is flooded with relatives, friends, and people from various walks of life there to assist Jose in what he believes should be an easy task. What becomes difficult is the juggling of beliefs and traditions between the numerous people under one roof.

Nora’s Will is a drama rich in depth and personality, but also has a fair amount of black comedy spread throughout. This comes from the wide array of characters present in the script. We have the nearly blind Aunt Leah; Jewish man Moises, who has been sent to pray over the body of Nora but is not quite ready for the irreverence of Jose; and Fabiana, the housekeeper, whose Catholic beliefs conflict with just about everyone else’s. In the middle of it all is Jose, an atheist, who in old age has become quite grumpy and has no problem going great lengths to offend others. When a local rabbi comes to the house with other Jewish followers to help with arrangements, Jose orders a pizza with extra ham, bacon, and sausage. This, of course, is more than insulting to the rabbi, who leaves upset, much to the amusement of Jose.

Jose’s actions aren’t without repercussions, as soon he finds himself an outsider in the family, since his actions are doing nothing to help an already painful situation. Jose insists that “everything she did was just to manipulate us” and hates to see Nora in any control of his surroundings, even after her death. The others, unconcerned with Jose’s selfish attitude, are looking for closure to the tragedy, a tragedy Jose is an unwilling participant in. Jose is ripe in age and believes what he believes, but he is finally beginning to recognize how his actions and words are causing pain to those around him. It took the death of someone important for Jose learn about some of the basics in life — respect, forgiveness, and compromise.

Nora’s Will is a pleasant film with wonderful characters and for a film that centers around a dead body, I found myself laughing a number of times. Nora’s Will could be loosely compared to Alfred Hitchcock’s classic The Trouble With Harry, another dark comedy centered around a dead body, but at no time did that film take itself seriously. Nora’s Will not only takes itself seriously, but brings up questions that many struggle with. How do we to get along with people of other worldviews? In what ways do our beliefs directly affect others around us? We can’t ignore that there are fundamental differences between us, but we still have to somehow live together. I won’t pretend that the film answers those questions or even pretends to, but what the film does accomplish is quite clear. It presents the story of a man, a flawed man, like you or me, and how he might deal with those same questions. How we answer those questions….well, that’s for you to figure out.

Closing Statement
The screenplay itself is rich with tangible characters and the story gets to the heart of issues that people will undoubtedly ask themselves at one time or another. If a dark, comedic drama is what you are yearning to see, Nora’s Will should serve you well. It isn’t a film I would see several times, but it was worth seeing once and I would recommend it to those looking for a uniquely warm and touching film experience.

The Verdict

7/10