Movie Review: A Tale Of Love And Darkness (PG)

Natalie Portman's directorial debut is a good effort, but has little else.

The movie isn't bad, but it's anticlimactic and borders on boring.

Portman spent over a decade gunning for this movie to be made, and I wish it had paid off.

It follows a young boy (Amir Tessler) living through Israel's independence, but more than anything, it's a film about his mother (Portman).

Portman tries desperately to convey complex ideas and emotions, but the likelihood is that the average moviegoer won't catch on to most of them.

To her benefit, she has flooded the cast with talented unknowns, which gives the movie the intimate feel that it needs.

Verdict: 3/5