Cinema 2011 #15: Rabbit Hole

Much like Alice’s adventures, this Rabbit Hole takes you on a strange journey, and will surprise and charm you with its frank and sincere depiction of life, death and grief. John Cameron Mitchell’s feature version of the Pulitzer-winning play stars Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart as Becca and Howie Corbett, an affluent couple coping with the accidental death of their 4 year-old son, 8 months after he was struck by a teenage driver. What could have been a turgid and drawn-out treatise on the pains of death and loss is actually an uplifting and life-affirming drama, with moments of tender sorrow balanced by brave laughs and a terrific ensemble cast.