"You Carry Me" Film Review

“You Carry Me” puts its own little spin on the popular narrative structure of seemingly separate characters coming together in an interconnected storyline. Similar to “Magnolia” and “Babel,” this film presents that converged theme in a more centralized and focused format. With this type of storytelling, the viewer truly comes to know Yves, Dora, Nataša, and their respective fathers through a series of unique but overlapping experiences.

Through fantastic characterization, “You Carry Me” shows how each female lead confronts and copes with their personal traumas through film. Dora memorizes a football manager’s speeches, Ives watches old home movies, and Nataša attempts to record videos for her unborn child — all with the intention of reaching a version of themselves that has been lost through time. These actions, just like their connection through the film-in-film production of “Prisoners of Happiness,” unite each character without forgoing their individual personalities.

Where this film really excels is its visual storytelling. The recurring theme of falling stones is not just an example of beautiful visual effects, but it adds a subtle layer of magical realism. Also, the inclusion of male nudity was a standout filmmaking decision that supports the underlying notes of female strength and resilience. All too often, films feature gratuitous female nudity that serves no purpose beyond cheap titillation. But in “You Carry Me,” even the supporting characters are shown to be unabashedly human — flesh and all.