It’s like discovering an entirely new world beyond just four walls. We're familiar with the German folk tale 'Rapunzel,' and this film shares similarities but has a completely different purpose. It isn't a fairy tale set in medieval times; instead, it draws inspiration from real-life events of our current era. A couple of years ago I saw a German movie called ‘3096 Days,’ which was based on a true story. When this film was announced, I initially thought of that title, but the poster alone convinced me they were different projects. Naturally, expectations rose, and now it’s garnered four Oscar nominations, including for best motion picture. The two halves of the movie felt very distinct, almost like separate stories, yet the central theme remained consistent. The first half was a crucial section that unfolds entirely within a single room with a limited cast. It avoids an introduction, jumping straight into the story as if it's already in progress; you might need a few minutes to grasp the situation. The second part is a reaction to what happened earlier. This too is important for storytelling because, like the title suggests, it wasn’t just about the room—it was about everything beyond those four walls and its floor and ceiling, and how it affected the mother and son. The movie doesn't focus on the crime itself or attempt to reveal the motive behind it. So that mystery remains unsolved. The narration is entirely one-sided, presented through the perspective of a five-year-old boy. He begins with the line "Once upon a time..." as if it were a fairy tale, and his charming performance, along with Brie Larson's, illustrates their struggle for freedom. The beginning felt surprisingly casual, suggesting nothing bad was happening—just that they were odd people or perhaps suffering from agoraphobia. Except, that wasn’t the case. We often say we want to be kids again to escape complicated adult life, but sometimes it's just a reaction to our circumstances. But what if a five-year-old boy wished he was four years old when his mother felt it was time for him to understand the realities of the world? That’s quite a lot for a young boy to process, but it represented their best chance to escape the person who had confined his mother. It was a neat presentation, and the camera angles were impressive. I know it was filmed in a studio with plenty of space behind the cameras, but that doesn't detract from the perspective within the story itself. When the first half concludes, it felt like the best parts were over—at least that’s what I initially thought. However, what followed was an unexpected expansion of the narrative. Typically, similar stories end at that point; for example, ‘Prisoners,’ and everything else is left to the imagination. When a story has a "happily ever after" ending, some people still want to see how happy those characters really are—and that's what this film’s second half provides. Many comparable themes explore multiple viewpoints: how the victim's family copes, how police pursue the suspect, the abductor's plans and motive, and the captives' struggles. As I mentioned, it's about the experiences of a mother and her son during those years in captivity and afterward. There were some suspicious characters and events; for instance, I felt uneasy about the doctor’s gentle tone, and also about the mother-son duo’s plan while they were being held captive. These are subtle hints that lead viewers to question where the story is headed. It's primarily about the mental trauma experienced by the mother and son, similar to Tarzan’s first time in a city after leaving his previous life behind. The pacing was also perfect—neither rushed nor slow. This movie marked a significant breakthrough for many involved, especially for the Irish director, Brie Larson, and of course, the child actor. It's definitely one of the best films of 2015 and worth seeing. 9/10

Source on TMDB