A young woman (Brie Larson) has spent seven years of her life held captive in a soundproof shed in her abductor's backyard, having been joined the previous five by her son whom she conceals knowledge of outside life. Following a miraculous escape opportunity, mother and son must adjust to life in the real world while contending with the effects of dealing with lost time, a media onslaught, and still grieving parents (Joan Allen and William H. Macy), among other issues. From a novel by Emma Donoghue, which drew on an extreme case out of Germany (and holds relevancy following the recent occurrence in Cleveland), Lenny Abrahamson's Room is a thoughtful, well conceived take, which tactfully leaves certain questions unanswered and situations explored while focusing on its primary theme of finding hope in a hopeless situation, resulting in an intense and moving experience. Larson is an earnest, appealing actress who offers her best but struggles during the most most demanding scenes and Allen is tenderly powerful in support.
*** 1/2 out of ****
