Why "Marvin's Room" Is a Timeless Masterpiece?

"Marvin's Room" is a story about two sisters, Lee (Meryl Streep) and Bessie (Diane Keaton), who reunite after twenty years of not seeing each other. Bessie is diagnosed as having leukemia, and she needs a relative whose bone marrow matches her own. Lee already has personal issues on her plate. Her oldest son Hank (Leonardo DiCaprio) is in a mental institution for having burnt down their house and half of the neighborhood. Bessie meets her nephews seventeen years later for the first time. She has spent twenty years taking care of her sick father (Hume Cronyn) and his lovely elderly sister (Gwen Verdon). Robert DeNiro plays Mr. Wally in the film- Bessie's doctor.

Marvin's Room marks a directorial debut of Jerry Zaks. The film is a screen adaptation of a 1991 stage play with the same title by Scott McPherson.

The film portrays relationships in such a truthful and exquisite way. It mostly focuses on three main characters- Lee, Bessi, and Hank. Their relations are so multi-layered, yet the performances in the film so specific.

The sister-sister relationship between Bessie and Lee is so effortlessly honest and unfiltered. The scene where they see each other for the first time in 17 years is just so raw. You can see that they are both awkward, excited, and scared at the same time. Details such as Bessie patiently ignoring Lee's cigarette smoke instead of saying she's not comfortable with it or Lee spending hours in the evening on improving the style of her sister's wig expose the core of the relationship. When Bessie opens up to Lee about her boyfriend's sudden death, Lee realizes how much they both have missed. You can see the pain in Lee's eyes when Bessie says: "We were never really that close.", and growing sadness on her sister's face. They laugh in one moment and cry minutes later. They realize how much they both love each other and how unreasonable it is to lose touch with a loved one for such a long time. Lee is terrified of losing her sister. Meryl Streep's incredible character work shows all these emotions boiling inside and slowly coming out.

The relationship between Lee and her 17-year-old son Hank is one of the main focuses of the film. Their connection is at first as cold as it is distant. There's a lot of anger coming from Hank and disappointment and attitude on Lee's side. Their relationship gradually improves once they arrive at Bessie's house. In one of the scenes, Lee asks Hank if the wind is blowing too hard in the car. It shows us that Lee is ready to change, and she cares about someone other than herself. It's a small moment that says a lot. They are both stubborn and proud, but they also get hurt easily. They usually don't show it, though. Lee tries to find a way to talk some sense into Hank but keeps failing because of her self-absorbed personality traits. The challenge of the reconciliation struggle between those two is visible throughout the movie and is fascinating to watch.

Hank and his aunt Bessie have only just met. Yet, they developed such a beautiful relationship. Bessie's ability to empathetically reach out to her troubled teenage nephew allows us to see both of them blossom. The scene when Hank and Bessie are driving the car by the ocean is so stunning. It portrays freedom in its best form. The moment of shared laughter in the car with water splashing their faces is just so raw and appealing. They both have a chance to get out of their heads for a few minutes and live fully in the present moment. Hank already trusts his aunt enough to ask her personal questions about his dad. Bessie starts to understand Hank more because of using a completely different approach to his mom. She witnesses him sharing very vulnerable moments with her. They both develop a very compassionate bond based on honesty and trust. The way they both giggle in front of Lee after their road trip shows how comfortable they get when they are with each other.

Apart from the award-winning acting, technical details in the film are another thing that brings it to the next level. One of the scenes finishes with the garage gate closing on when the conversation ends. The camera's POV is from inside of the garage, which ends the shot with a full black screen once the gate closes. The timing of it is captivating and feels so natural. The beach scene shares bright, summery colors- anything that would remind us of a well-enjoyed time out. Watching this scene, you feel like you're on the beach with the actors. The sound crew captivated satisfying noises of the ocean, seagulls, and the car driving through wet sand. The mix of different shots, locations, delightful music, and the script give you a full cinematic experience.

"Marvin's Room" emphasizes how the love we give to others is the most valuable thing that makes life worth living. It is filled with raw, magic moments that uplift your spirits and affect you emotionally. Everyone watching this film will be able to relate to a different character and storyline. The movie succeeds in showing the comic vibrancy while portraying heavy subjects such as illness, reconciliation, and mental health. The chemistry between the actors is very captivating, and their characters come to life in every scene. The film will make you laugh and cry at the same time while giving you time to reflect on many different life struggles. 'Marvin's Room' is a heartwarming story about the healing power of forgiveness, sacrifice, and acceptance.