Adoration 2009

Simon, a young orphan, finds himself navigating a complex emotional landscape while being raised by his uncle Tom. Early in the film, we witness poignant moments where Simon captures his conversations with his ailing grandfather in a hospital setting. From Simon’s innocent perspective, his grandfather emerges as a caring and wise individual. In contrast, Simon’s uncle reveals a more troubling side of this family legacy, reflecting deeply ingrained racism and backward thinking. As the plot thickens, it becomes clear that Simon’s grandfather harbored a deep-seated animosity towards Simon’s father, suggesting that he intended to cause the fatal car crash that claimed the lives of both Simon’s mother and father. However, Simon’s discovery at the film’s conclusion sheds light on his grandfather’s night blindness, a condition stemming from an eye problem that blinded him to the reality leading up to the accident.

On the fateful evening of the car crash, the disparate memories of the characters clash, intricately weaving their narratives together in an emotionally resonant, Egoyanesque finale. A noteworthy element of the film is how Simon’s family story is cleverly intertwined with a news piece introduced by his high school French teacher during a translation exercise. The article details an attempted bombing of an aircraft where a man hides explosives in his pregnant wife’s luggage. Inspired, Simon chooses to translate the story, narrating it from the perspective of the unborn child in the woman’s womb. Encouraged by his teacher to develop this concept into a dramatic piece, Simon ultimately presents it to the class and online, leading many to believe he truly embodies that child.

The teacher’s subsequent silence holds profound significance, as it is later revealed that she had a personal connection to Simon’s father, who perished alongside his mother in the same tragic car accident. As the plot progresses, the narratives surrounding the car crash and the attempted plane bombing intertwine, allowing the characters to confront their denied pasts. The film poignantly explores the search for identity in our increasingly digital world, a realm where facts often seem irrelevant. Simon’s fabricated narrative about his father being a suicide bomber garners a mixed bag of responses online—sympathy, outrage, and even outlandish support from unexpected corners, including a racist skinhead who deems Simon’s father a hero.

This overwhelming reaction from the digital sphere deepens Simon’s sense of alienation, ultimately compelling him to disconnect from the virtual world and confront the harsh realities of his childhood. As Simon’s journey unfolds, it profoundly influences those around him, culminating in a poignant reconciliation of their interconnected tales. Each character’s fragmented past must be reassessed for healing and reconnection to occur in their present lives, emphasizing the intricate tapestry of human experiences and the pressing need to confront unresolved issues.