Babel

***1/2 Stars

In the Bible, the story of Babel (a city now known as Babylon) was about confusion towards language. God confounded a presumptuous attempt to build a tower into heaven by confusing the builders into many mutually incomprehensible languages. The film Babel rings true to its title, in which it tells of four stories, from different areas of the world that are deeply connected. Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu examines the issues of family crisis, illegal immigration, and communicable misunderstanding. It tells us how depressing this world has become when everyone is so stereotypical.

In the remote sands of the Moroccan desert, an American tourist is hit by a rifle shot heard around the world. A Japanese teen rebel's (Rinko Kikuchi) father is sought by the police in Tokyo who is involved with the rifle. The couple’s frantic struggle to survive (stellar performances by Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett) is long and heartbreaking. Two Moroccan boys involved in the accidental crime are frantically trying to save themselves. The nanny taking care of the American couple's two children, takes them across the Mexican/American Border and causes heartbreaking controversy.

The movie raises some serious questions. Why are people so different? Do laws and culture clash to create the world’s problems? Like last year's Best Picture winning Crash, this is a fascinating look at how we are more connected than one sees. It is a tale of deep connection, love and survival, and cultural misunderstanding. Brad Pitt's performance is of Oscar caliber and Inarritu's direction is crisp and vivaciously spectacular.