Matt and Mara Christian Review
Some films are less about what happens and more about how they make you feel. Matt and Mara is one of those films, steeped in ambiguity, longing, and missed connections. It takes place in modern-day Toronto, but its emotional setting feels timeless: a space where two people share a history that simultaneously binds and pushes them apart. Kazik Radwanski, both writer and director, has crafted a piece of cinema that thrives on subtlety. There’s no grand narrative arc, no sweeping emotional climax, no clear answers. It’s about what isn’t said, what isn’t done, and the weight of all that lingers in the silence.
The film opens with a scene that sets the tone for what’s to come: Matt and Mara sitting in a café, barely speaking, their faces betraying little. It’s clear they have a past, but it’s the kind of past that’s left unresolved. As Christians, we might find ourselves immediately frustrated with the lack of communication between these two. After all, we are called to live in community, to bear one another’s burdens, to speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Yet, here we are, watching two people who can barely share a full sentence with each other.
Radwanski’s film is a study in restraint. It invites you to sit with discomfort, to acknowledge that some relationships simply don’t heal the way we want them to. But for a Christian audience, there’s something unsettling about this. Where is the reconciliation? Where is the moment where Matt and Mara realize the error of their ways, confess their sins, and move toward healing? It never comes. Instead, we are left with two people who drift through life, connected by shared history but emotionally distant.
The Fragility of Human Connection
If there’s one thing Matt and Mara does well, it’s capturing the fragility of human relationships. Matt and Mara aren’t antagonistic; they’re not screaming at each other or engaging in dramatic fights. Instead, their relationship is marked by a kind of emotional inertia. They aren’t moving toward each other, but they aren’t pulling away, either. They’re stuck in a limbo of sorts, where neither wants to confront the reality of their situation.
As Christians, this feels like a missed opportunity. We are people of reconciliation. The Bible calls us to forgive, to be at peace with one another, to restore broken relationships whenever possible (Matthew 5:23-24). And yet, Matt and Mara gives us no such hope. The characters seem content to remain in their emotional stasis, avoiding the difficult conversations that might lead to healing.
This isn’t to say that the film is entirely devoid of merit. There’s something painfully honest about its depiction of relationships. Sometimes, people don’t change. Sometimes, they don’t reconcile. And while this might not align with the Christian ideal, it’s a reality that many of us have experienced. Relationships don’t always end with a neat bow; sometimes, they just fade into the background, leaving us with more questions than answers.
The Power of Silence
One of the most striking aspects of Matt and Mara is its use of silence. Radwanski fills the screen with close-up shots of his characters’ faces, forcing us to focus on the smallest shifts in expression. In a world that often values grand gestures and dramatic declarations, this film asks us to pay attention to the subtleties of human interaction. But here’s the problem: silence, while powerful, can also be isolating.
For a Christian viewer, the lack of communication between Matt and Mara is deeply frustrating. We are called to be people of the Word, to speak truth, to confess, to encourage one another. The Bible is full of instructions about how we should communicate with each other—how we should speak kindly, honestly, and openly (Colossians 4:6). Yet Matt and Mara remain trapped in their own worlds, unwilling or unable to bridge the gap between them.
This emotional distance makes it difficult to connect with the characters. We want to see them move toward each other, to say something—anything—that might lead to a breakthrough. But that moment never comes. Instead, we are left watching two people who are emotionally adrift, unable to reach out to each other in any meaningful way. It’s a depiction of relational paralysis, and while it may be realistic, it’s also deeply unsatisfying.
Love Without Resolution
At its core, Matt and Mara is a film about love—messy, complicated, unresolved love. It’s the kind of love that exists in the margins, where things are left unsaid, where gestures mean more than words, and where the possibility of reconciliation feels like a distant hope. For Christians, love is central to our faith. We believe in a love that is patient, kind, forgiving, and redemptive (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). But the love in Matt and Mara is none of those things.
Instead, it’s a love marked by avoidance. Matt and Mara don’t confront their issues; they simply exist alongside them. There’s no moment of forgiveness, no scene where they acknowledge their mistakes and seek to move forward together. It’s a love that’s stagnant, stuck in the past, with no hope of a future. And while this might be an accurate depiction of some relationships, it’s one that leaves us wanting more.
As Christians, we long for stories of redemption. We want to see broken relationships healed, hearts softened, and people reconciled to each other and to God. But Matt and Mara offers no such resolution. It’s a story of two people who remain emotionally distant, never fully addressing the issues that keep them apart. And while this might be a realistic portrayal of human relationships, it’s one that ultimately feels incomplete.
A Cinematic Experience
There’s no denying that Matt and Mara is a beautifully crafted film. The cinematography is stunning, with close-up shots that capture the smallest details of the characters’ faces. The music, though sparse, adds to the film’s atmosphere of quiet tension. From a purely cinematic standpoint, it’s a film that’s well-made, with a clear vision and style.
But for all its technical strengths, Matt and Mara remains emotionally distant. The characters are difficult to connect with, their motivations unclear, and their relationship ultimately unfulfilling. As a Christian viewer, this emotional distance can feel alienating. We are drawn to stories that speak to the heart, that remind us of the transformative power of love, grace, and redemption. Matt and Mara doesn’t offer those themes, leaving us with a film that feels incomplete.
Final Thoughts
Matt and Mara is a film that explores the complexities of human relationships, but it does so in a way that may leave viewers feeling unsatisfied. It’s a beautifully shot film, with strong performances and a quiet, meditative tone. But for Christian viewers, the lack of resolution and the emotional distance between the characters may be frustrating. We long for stories of reconciliation and redemption, but Matt and Mara offers no such hope.
Rating: 5/10
While Matt and Mara is technically impressive and emotionally subtle, it falls short of delivering the kind of narrative resolution that many Christian viewers might hope for. Its exploration of love and relationships is thoughtful, but ultimately incomplete.
