Carnage, based on the play God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza, is a brief but charming comedic film. Much like Reza’s other Tony award winning play ‘Art’, it features a group of people who come together for a seemingly innocuous reason only to slowly annoy, provoke and antagonize each other. Instead of three friends coming together to view an all-white painting, Carnage describes how two set of parents meet after their sons get into a fight at a nearby playground.
Penelope and Michael Longstreet – played by Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly – host Nancy and Alan Cowan – played by Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz – hoping to find a resolution to the violent outburst. The attempts at reconciliation are primarily driven by Penelope who seems to feel that it is only natural that the others share her views. As the film continues, the characters needle each other and each couple discovers that their relationships are not as solid as they had thought.
Aside from the opening and closing credits, the film takes places entirely within the Longstreets’ apartment. Director Roman Polanski begins and ends the film with an establishing shot of Brooklyn Bridge Park, showing the altercation between the two boys transpires and how things are patched up by the end of the film. In the apartment, long takes focus on the relationships between the four main characters and how they grow alternatively closer and further apart throughout the film.
The ensemble cast brings to life characters are typical of modern life. Penelope claims to be an activist but ultimately does nothing to improve the plight of those who are less fortunate although she frequently criticizes others for doing the same. Alan cannot put aside his telephone and give his attention to what is in front of him. Nancy is hoping for a family structure where she can take a more important role. Michael purports to be the affable everyman and although he is as genuine as any other character, he ultimately wants to satisfy his own needs. The upwardly mobile couples are entirely out of touch with the world that unfolds outside their window.
Carnage is a short film so there is not sufficient time to develop the characters fully beyond detailed sketches. Nevertheless, the audience laughed throughout and genuinely cared about the outcome of the film. It may be better suited to a play — the work does not equal the sum of its parts but proves to be an enjoyable diversion. ***