Angelina Jolie directs a morality tale Without Blood and without purpose
Salma Hayek and Demián Bichir are tethered by trauma in Angelina Jolie's underwhelming drama Without Blood.
The film Without Blood, directed by Angelina Jolie, follows a grim tale of revenge and trauma. The story begins with a family enjoying a peaceful day in their farmhouse, until gunmen attack their remote estate, seeking vengeance for an unspecified wartime incident. The man, now a former gunman, invites the victim, now an older woman, to share their painful memories over dinner.
This reunion reveals that war and desperation can lead to unspeakable acts, stripping away humanity. However, the film's setting and timeline feel irrelevant to the story, and its message of healing through conversation is overly optimistic in today's war-torn world. The movie is shot entirely in Rome's Cinecittà Studios, with indoor scenes, despite not being set in Italy.
The title is revealed only at the end, making it feel inconsequential. The film, at 80 minutes, lacks depth and purpose, recycling scenes and details, ultimately presenting a shallow exploration of trauma and its consequences across human history.
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