The Waiting City (2009)
Average Rating: 6.3/10
Reviews Counted: 15
Fresh: 11 | Rotten: 4
No consensus yet.
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Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 786
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Movie Info
A couple eager to adopt a child find their relationship might not last long enough for them to get their new daughter in this drama from writer and director Claire McCarthy. Fiona (Radha Mitchell) and Ben (Joel Edgerton) are a couple from Australia -- she's a successful, self-starting lawyer while he's a relaxed, easy-going musician. Fiona and Ben want to adopt a child, and have traveled to India for what they imagine will be a quick and simple process. However, once they arrive in Calcutta they
May 31, 2011
E1 Entertainment
- Official Site
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All Critics (16) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (11) | Rotten (4) | DVD (1)
Much of the joy of The Waiting City comes from the slow unraveling of the characters relationships, as well as in the gorgeous cinematography of Denson Baker.
The Waiting City is a beautifully crafted bitter-sweet exploration of a functional but near-broken relationship exposed by this perpetually functional but near-broken city.
India is the best character in a touching if convoluted story.
Too often in The waiting City, there are moments that jar, misjudgments and bad calls in performance and structure that distract from the important process going on here.
The Waiting City is an immersive film, but also a contemplative one.
Cue the parade of local colour -- women in saris, decaying buildings, sunsets over the Ganges -- and the inevitable transcendental experience.
Unfortunately, courtesy of vacuous scripting and stilted performances, The Waiting City ultimately does precious little to have you caring.
There's more atmosphere than plot in Claire McCarthy's film, but the atmosphere is very strong indeed.
This isn't the best Aussie film of the year but with strong performances and a distinct setting, it warrants your attention.
The Waiting City deals with themes of spiritualism, motherhood and the issue of international adoption, but is ultimately a film about intimate relationships and the stuff that binds them when all else falls away.
Driven by a tremendously honest script and beautiful lead performances, this film marks a major achievement and challenges its audience to consider its themes deeply.
2010 is shaping up to be yet another bumper year for Australian film, and The Waiting City should be a big part of that.
An ambitious debut by Claire McCarthy, in which she tries to find a cohesion between the earthly realities of the subject matter, the complexities of Indian life and the demanding emotional journey of a young married couple
Living up to its name, The Waiting City rewards patience. The film's initial unevenness is remedied by a captivating second half full of heart.
Audience Reviews for The Waiting City
Super Reviewer
I've yet to see a movie set in India that wasn't a visual treat to watch, and The Waiting City definitely earns it's place on that list. The story, about an Australian couple come to Kolkata to adopt a child in the hopes that it will fix their strained relationship, is also interesting, even though I thought it stumbled into predictable, melodramatic territory at times. This is sort of an emotional coming of age story for the two main characters, both as individuals and a couple. The transition from who they are at the beginning to who they are at the end isn't exactly handled in the most organic way, but it is mostly believable.
The movie dabbles in ideas about faith and spirituality, as well, but in a very unfocused way.
I recommend The Waiting City to those interested in India, fans of Radha Mitchell or Joel Edgerton, and movie fans comfortable with subdued, personal storytelling that takes its time to get where it's going.
Super Reviewer
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