A US soldier suffers a traumatic brain injury while fighting in Afghanistan and struggles to adjust to life back home.
Chuck says:
There’s a sense of quiet to Lila Neugebauer’s “Causeway” that creates an almost uncomfortable intimacy. We witness acts its heroine is embarrassed about, things she would rather keep hidden, things she used to do without thinking but now require a Herculean effort. Though she’s making progress, her rehabilitation is slow and dealing with the minute steps and negligible progress seems to be the most difficult thing to overcome.
Having suffered a severe brain trauma while serving in Afghanistan, Lynsey (Jennifer Lawrence) is struggling not only to acclimate to civilian life but also re-learning how to do the simplest things. Brushing her teeth is a chore, holding a glass is difficult and getting dressed takes far longer than it should. Moving back in with her mother (Linda Emond) was not the most ideal situation, an obvious disconnect between them. Finding a sense of purpose is also difficult. However, once she’s able, she finds a job cleaning swimming pools. While working, she crosses paths with James (Brian Tyree Henry), a local mechanic with his share of problems. A tentative friendship begins the form.
The film’s narrative arc is negligible and at times awkward. Lynsey and James’ relationship seems forced and the fact that he’s also dealing with a physical disability as well as emotional damage seems a bit too convenient. Lawrence and Henry do fine work, particularly during the movie’s final scene, but even their conviction can’t sell us on these moments.
Then again, this isn’t the focus of the movie. Neugebauer and Lawrence succeed in poignantly capturing the day-to-day struggles millions of veterans must contend. This is a stark wake-up call for those who don’t give a second thought to recalling simple details or walking without considering every step. There’s a different sort of courage on display here, a sincere sense of respect displayed regarding the fight Lynsey and her fellow veterans wage daily.
In many ways, this is Lawrence’s best work. She employs stillness like a protective device, as Lynsey hopes her troubles will be overlooked, wanting neither attention nor pity. Yet, the hurt and longing she conveys with her eyes is heartbreaking; a childlike longing for a sense of normalcy is resting there, a palpable yearning. She does so much with so little, it would be easy to misconstrue her lack of emoting with not performing at all, but nothing could be further from the truth.
The best films give us moments that stick with you. Watching Lynsey play a child’s memory game, turning over cards, attempting to match pairs of pictures that are hidden haunts me. It’s a quick scene but conveys so much, a transitory moment signaling a small success, hidden from prying eyes, a tiny flicker of pride playing across her face. “Causeway” provides many such seemingly insignificant instances, but it is in these scenes of hidden strength and dignity that its heart beats, the result being an honest and sincere portrayal of our wounded warrior’s never-ending battle.
3 1/2 Stars
