Product Details

• Actors: Olivier Gourmet, Arta Dobroshi, Jérémie Renier, Fabrizio Rongione, Alban Ukaj
• Directors: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
• Producers: Lorna's Silence (2008) ( Le silence de Lorna ) ( Il matrimonio di Lorna ), Lorna's Silence (2008), Le silence de Lorna, Il matrimonio di Lorna
• Format: Import, PAL, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 2 (Read more about DVD formats.)
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Cinéart
• Run Time: 101 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002D33MES
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #333,327 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Netherlands released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: French ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), French ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: An Albanian woman living in Belgium finds her dreams of opening a snack bar with her boyfriend leading to tragedy after she agrees to marry a Russian Mafioso in order to gain citizenship. All Lorna wanted was to start a small business with her loving boyfriend, but in order to make that happen she would first have to gain citizenship. Local mobster Fabio claims that he can make that happen if Lorna agrees to a sham marriage with a man named Claudy. After gaining Belgian citizenship, Lorna discovers that a high-profile Russian Mafioso is also seeking legal entry into Belgium, and soon. He's willing to pay a hearty sum in order to marry Lorna, but in order for that second marriage to be possible Fabio will have to have Claudy killed. Will Lorna be able to remain silent as Fabio's deadly plot unfolds, and what will become of her if Fabio finds out that she has warned Claudy of the impending danger he faces? SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Cannes Film Festival, ...Lorna's Silence (2008) ( Le silence de Lorna ) ( Il matrimonio di Lorna )

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Immigration Issues: Money/Crime/Commitment/Love, April 5, 2010

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lorna's Silence (DVD)

LORNA'S SILENCE is a film that very quietly grabs you by the throat and makes you pay attention to the stories of several emigrants that spin out of control. It is written and directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne with an eye for verismo in the seamier side of the immigration problems.

The story is set in Belgium where Lorna (Arta Dobroshi) works at a dry cleaners then goes home to her 'husband' Claudy (Jérémie Renier), a junkie who has been duped by Lorna and her little crime gang of cab driver Fabio (Fabrizio Rongione) and her boyfriend Sokol (Alban Ukaj)into marrying Lorna so that the Albanian girl can gain Belgian citizenship. Claudy seems a hopeless case, in withdrawal for the umpteenth time but committed to getting off heroin. He pleads with his 'arranged wife' to help him with his attempt to get clean. Meanwhile Fabio has other plans: Lorna is to 'marry' a wealthy Russian mobster to gain Belgian citizenship (a second arranged marriage) and in order for the second marriage to occur, Lorna must consent to letting Claudy overdose on heroin and die, making her a widow eligible for marriage. The other side story is that Lorna, now a Belgian citizen, can proceed with Sokol to set up a snack shop with Sokol using all the money she gains from the 'marriage game'.

All is well until Claudy convinces Lorna to help him get to a hospital and get 'clean' and along the way Lorna's feelings for Claudy turn to compassion and passion. An incident occurs that throws all of the plans to the wind and Lorna is left with her secret and will hopefully manage to find a stable life without the crime influence.

The acting is first rate and the moody atmosphere created is spellbinding. This is a little film that has a lot to say about the plight of immigrants. Grady Harp, April 10

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still above most other movies produced these days, November 24, 2009

By 

Un francais en angleterre (Londres, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lorna's Silence (DVD)

The Dardennes brother have made better movies (most notably Rosetta), but also think that it's a movie well worth watching. The acting is extremely good and the direction manages to be both strong and subtle. They've managed to make the movie primarily through the point of view of the main character, while keeping a kind of distance at the same time. (it's probably a bit confusing as an explanation, but it's so unusual in a way that you'd probably have to see the movie to get my point). As to whether you'll enjoy it or not, you'd rather be the type of person who enjoys the journey at least as much as the destination, or you'll likely be disappointed

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Marriage by convenience!, May 3, 2010

By 

Hiram Gomez Pardo (Valencia, Venezuela) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lorna's Silence (DVD)

The introduction is direct. Lorna is married with an addict, as part of a contract. She is trying the Belgium citizenship and finally she gets it. But as part of this money chain, he has to get marry with a Russian citizen, but as widow not as divorced.

She will obtain 5000 euros for this simulated wedding. But when all the plans have been made (including the weird death of his first husband) a sudden factor irrupts : she is pregnant. That fact will lead the story to unsuspected consequences.

Nevertheless, the film is too slow. There was much intersections all the way along to explore and definitively were overlooked and dismissed. The dramatic tension is attenuated due precisely the slowness of the narrative pulse.

A solid script that could be enhanced.