The Silence of Lorna

There's far more plot in this film than is usual for the Dardenne brothers, and it's not necessarily a good thing. The first half concentrates on the (soon-to-be-ended) marriage of convenience between Albanian Lorna and junkie Claudy. The plan is for her to get Belgian citizenship, and then subsequently remarry a Russian, who in turn will become a citizen. Simple. Until, that is, Claudy decides to clean up and the gang decide an overdose is quicker than waiting for a divorce. Lorna's disdain for Claudy turns into an urge to save his life, and maybe even genuine affection. The second half revolves around the fallout from these events. Lorna's guilt expresses itself via a phantom pregnancy which she steadfastly believes is real despite all evidence to the contrary. Running throughout is the continuous exchange of money - in shops, banks, between Lorna and her boyfriend, Lorna and the gang and Lorna and Claudy (he gives her his money in an attempt to stay clean) At the beginning it represents her desire to own a business, but by the end it's of far less importance than the phantom baby. It's clearly supposed to signal her redemption but actually feels far sadder. The loss of her dreams and a descent into a self-imposed delusion.