Slaughterhouse-Five

A man tells his story of how he became unstuck in time and abducted by aliens.

I'm ashamed to say I haven't read the source material from which this was made, so can make no comment on its faithfulness or lack thereof to the book. These considerations aside, Slaughterhouse-Five is an accomplished character study that throws up some interesting philosophical questions about the passage of time and the experience of life. 

There's a deliberate pacing to this film that takes its time as it explores the subject. From long lingering shots on lines of soldiers being led to prison camps to Michael Sacks's Billy trying to teach his young dog new tricks, the priority seems always to be in appreciating the moment. 

The movie's structure is completely non-linear, Billy slipping between different points in his life, both into the past and future. What I found particularly engaging in this is how his life is shaped by his experiences in the war. He seems grateful for everything that comes his way, though more attached to his dog than any of the people in his life. There's also a debate to be had on whether his experiences are in fact accurate, or if he is mentally ill in some way. There are scenes in which he is clearly in some kind of institution, but given that he is constantly moving back and forth, it's unclear if that might be the base from which the time travelling is taking place.

This kind of structure could easily make for confusion if not handled well, but there is no danger of that here. Transitions between the different time periods are managed neatly, with the often inventive editing smoothly easing you from one moment to the next. The starkly disparate environments also play a big part in this, suburban America obviously appearing vastly different to wartime Germany.

As far as the atmosphere is concerned, the sense of foreboding is very heavy at times, though there's not much in the way of surprises. The majority of the major events that take place already having been related in earlier scenes, though later in Billy's life. This works in the film's favour for the most part, largely due to the desire this creates to have the vague details fleshed out. It's often very clear which of these moments have had a pronounced effect on him and many of the most interesting questions are raised as a result of them.

This kind of film-making can sometimes be a little too cerebral for some (myself included), but this is a picture that doesn't indulge itself excessively in that respect. The themes are clearly spelled out in a few of the scenes, ensuring that there is no chance of misunderstanding and that the aims are absolutely relatable for all.

The Verdict:

7/10
A film that is thoughtful, but without being unnecessarily overcomplicated. There are just as many answers as questions raised and it fulfils its aims with remarkable clarity, considering the challenging nature of the structure.