Review of The Bench

The Bench gives a no nonsense depiction of the way of alcohol. The road to early death. From an experienced and professional point of view the way is not shown 'alco-holistic' —in surround angles with context feedback from soul to skin—but it is only scattered pictures from the surface: the face of the drinking man, his physical and verbal spasms, his loneliness among alcoholic peers, his mighty thirst, his negative emotions of anger, self hatred, cynicism, and then the sudden rebound of long forgotten family love.

From the behavioristic technique of telling the story the audience might wonder what road of excess this man has wandered and why it did not lead to the palace of wisdom.

But the film itself doesn't take at stand or offers a story or history of the man and his alcohol. The fixed point of view and the main character is—the Bench. So the story can not move and will not develop. It is sitting on the bench. The love drop to this dying life is only a blurb before the long goodbye. Good setting, good sitting, good acting. Good row of still pictures.

Thus, though careful in its objective artistry —excactly why it is not 'cinéma-vérité'—the film is sentimental and deterministic. No source. No lesson. No hope. No change. In great art there is always hope. Especially in tragedy. Where you can track back and learn 'why?' In life it is karma. In literature poetic justice. This is also cinematic. Please the gods. Change the game.