TRIGGER WARNING: THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES EVENTS FROM EL PASO, TEXAS AND PORT ARTHUR, TASMANIA THAT SOME MAY FIND DISTURBING
I was raised in El Paso, Texas and lived there during the 2019 mass shooting. I was married there and is where most of my family lives. This made Nitram a very difficult movie for me to watch. But even without my ties to El Paso, the story is still a powerful one. Taking place in the 1990s, Nitram follows the titular character (Caleb Landry Jones). He lives with his mother (Judy Davis) and father (Anthony LaPaglia). Though he is mocked by seemingly everyone, he begins a relationship with a wealthy older woman (Essie Davis). When their their union comes to tragic end, it leads to one of the worst tragedies in Australia’s history.
As with any movie willing to take on such a delicate topic, Nitram walks a tight rope. The 1996 Port Arthur mass shooting ended with 35 people killed and another 23 wounded. It would be too easy to offend the families and survivors of the incident. The movie could take the event lightly, make the shooter a cartoonish villain, or try to get the audience to sympathize with the gunman.
Director Justin Kurzel is able to avoid all of these pitfalls and allows the audience to focus on the character of Nitram. What the movie does so well is its handling of him. For the most part, it is not looking to explain what led to his actions. It offers insight into his personality. Nitram is the worse case scenario when obvious issues are left unchecked. His parents would rather deal with his lies than actually address any problems. His mother gleefully recalls cruel tricks she played on her son while he father is sure Nitram will find his own way. It is never said that parents are to blame, but there is a sense that the shooting could have been prevented.
This does not mean the narrative tries to make Nitram out to be blameless. The opening moments clearly show that he understands, and even revels, in violent acts. This is a constant throughout the movie. Nitram acts out partially for attention, but also because he simply wants to. When everything spirals out of control, it easy to see how things could have taken a devastating turn.
Jones is fantastic in the lead role. In a performance that won the Best Actor award at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, Jones brings an fearsome intensity. It is in Nitram’s most hopeless moments that he is most frightening. He seems to long for approval and companionship, but is also unwilling to curb his more destructive tendencies. Unsurprisingly, there is a strong message regarding gun control. Even then, Nitram does not lose its focus. It is a story about mental health and pain that never loses the scope of the tragedy.
Nitram comes to theaters, digital, and AMC+ March 30
You must be logged in to post a comment Login