Third Person

Paul Haggis is the master of multiple narratives, and his lithe affection for this form of storytelling is on display again in the compelling Third Person, a film that wends its way through three cities and three tales. The various stories, situated in Paris, Rome, and New York, are, at first glance, all separate, but Haggis effortlessly makes connections among them as the film unwinds.

The film concentrates on three men and their romantic entanglements. Michael (Liam Neeson) is a writer whose latest manuscript has been refused, so he flies off to Paris to rethink his life, leaving his wife (Kim Basinger) behind in the States. Sean (Adrien Brody) finds himself wandering the streets of Rome and befriends a Romanian woman in a bar, while Rick (James Franco) lives in a tony New York apartment with his son from a previous marriage and his new girlfriend. Gradually, each one of these stories unveils its secrets, testifying to the whims and complexities of life. Surfaces are deceptive in the Haggis universe, but as each story is explored we discover untold pleasures and pains. Life is never easy: it can be deceptive, inhabited by anger and jealousy, but it can also be surprisingly joyous.

Each city in Haggis's film provides a physical landscape that reflects the dilemma of the characters, and the locations are used in very different ways. The sensuality of Paris, the warmth of Rome and the edge of New York all heighten the atmosphere. Third Person is a film of unexpected wonders, subtle shifts of mood, and powerful emotions. Redemption can be found amidst the chaos, but so can its opposite. Haggis pulls the strings masterfully while negotiating between the two.

Piers Handling