Martha Marcy May Marlene

Martha Marcy May Marlene

I was leaving the next day for Israel and wanted a little film to pass the time. I had not counted on a thriller that kept me anxious and agitated throughout. The film has already won awards at Sundance and Cannes. It is extremely well done and the actors are superb but I was sitting on the edge of my seat wishing it would all be over. When it did end I was very surprised with the abruptness that left you wondering what really was going to happen.
Elizabeth Olsen plays the part of Martha. She is the younger sister of the Olsen twins and it would seem as if she might have all the talent. Her beautiful face looks troubled and sullen throughout this shocking film.
Martha has been living in a cult. The initiation rites were disturbing. The new women are drugged and raped. The women sit in the background while the horrible men eat at the table. After the men are finished the women are allowed to eat. The women sleep on the floor in one large room. Needless to say their life is not a happy one. They rob fancy houses in the neighborhood.
Martha runs away and contacts her sister Lucy. Lucy is living a wonderful middle class life style. She is married to a wealthy English architect. They live in style and are happy with one another.
Martha’s arrival in the household unsettles the tranquility and the happy relationship of the couple. Martha leads her sister to believe she has left an abusive boyfriend. She won’t talk about her last two years when she was totally out of contact with her sister.
Martha is morbid and confused. She lashes out at a bartender during a big party given by Lucy and her husband.
The film takes you back and forth from her cult life to the present time when Martha is trying to adjust to a new life style.
Her mental health deteriorates until her sister and husband fear for her and themselves. The movie ends abruptly and you can imagine whatever you like as to what might happen.