Luce

Octavia Spencer, Naomi Watts,

Tim Roth, Kelvin Harrison Jr.

"The truth Has many Faces"

The stellar cast attracted me to watch this heavy drama that tackled race, adoption, political violence. Luce Edgar (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) is an ace student - good debater, athlete, charismatic, well loved by his peers and the community. Born in Eritrea, adopted at 7 years old by married couple Amy (Naomi Watts) and Peter Edgar (Tim Roth), they couldn't pronounce his real name so they called him Luce which means Light. Probably because he was the light of their eyes. 

For 10 years, Luce went through a tough time, reeling and shaken by a traumatic childhood in war torn Eritrea. But in high school, he is an all star student. An essay he wrote for his history class alarms his teacher Harriet Wilson (Octavia Spencer) who informs his parents about her concerns. She is worried there might be a violent streak in him, perhaps stemming from his troubled past. She also found a paper bag of illegal fireworks in his locker adding to her fears. But his parents, and specifically his mother, Amy is doubtful. They have been through too much with him so she believes Luce is a good person not capable of harming anyone. Or is he?

There are more incidents involving Luce in school and off campus. The premise focuses on two main trains of thought. Is Luce indeed capable of harm and is just maintaining a facade? Or is Luce a good person, and being falsely accused by a teacher who always gives him a hard time? Is he a sociopath? Or a saint? 

The plot falters as often as Luce comes up with an alibi. Sudden jarring music which comes out of nowhere was irritating. I expected a more steady course in the middle part, and a more polished ending could have given more closure, both for Luce's parents as well as the confused viewers. I'd say, Octavia Spencer and Naomi Watts' outstanding acting would be the only saving graces of this drama with racial undertones which frankly is a very difficult and sensitive story to tackle.