Movie Review: Emotional Arithmetic

Out from the cold is European Jakob Bronski. Along this aging man’s side is a slightly younger Christopher Lewis. Director Paolo Barzman uses a minimal amount of flashbacks to set the stage as to how these two outsiders perhaps were the ultimate insiders when it came to one of the gathered hosts.
Melanie shares a special past with both men and those old memories come back to haunt her and possible drive a wedge against her current roommates. Susan Sarandon (Thelma and Louise) again turns in her usual solid performance only here she is bolstered by terrific male talent. Class act Max Von Sydow (Never Say Never Again) captures the screen whenever he is in frame as Jakob while Irish gent Gabriel Byrne (The Usual Suspects) holds more than his own as the odd man out in this 99 minute look into the dark days of World War II and how they have a habit of returning to the comfortable surroundings of modern day rural Quebec.
Acting giant Christopher Plummer (The Sound of Music) eases into the work boots of David Winters and has a field day sparring with Max Von Sydow when things become a touch testy. Add on Quebecois actor Roy Dupuis (The Rocket) as a caring son and you have one of the nicest, most poignant stories Canada has put out in a while. Credit the success here to a superb cast, great charisma between all parties and a story that will grip you. Similar in theme to Schindler’s List Emotional Arithmetic performs well under loads of stress and tension.
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