__ by Dana Kaminski

Because of  her acting.

She’s a supporting actress Oscar nominee.

For most actors with one little scene, it’s hard to support anything. It’s hard to show much. 

Viola Davis shows everything, in her character-restraining way of showing practically nothing.

She is calm, and direct, and holds back with the dignity of a black woman who is confronted, unexpectedly; and yet is able to maintain composure.  All the while, letting us, the audience, get a sense of her whole life.  All the burdens she experiences. 

A backbreaking life is revealed. With that one performance.

This woman has got her heels dug into the dirt, as she holds back a life that is falling off of a precipice.  We get to understand, that she is just holding on, and waiting for the year to pass, and that she believes she will be able to relax her hold, just a little. That is , if she can get herself, and her little family, through that year.

There is so much “story” packed into that performance.  Exposition, backstory, and “other” story; of characters, life, events, and explanations that give us a keyhole, into a whole world of stuff that just fleshes out this movie.  It’s here, in this scene, that we get to view that whole rest of world, as it was like, at the time that this story takes place.

It’s also in this scene that we get to see all the rest of the ‘life’ outside of the convent, and church.  The whole world of this movie; the parts that connect directly and enable us to feel the conflicts of the theme of this movie, very deeply.  It’s also here, in this scene, that we get to view that whole rest of world, as it was like, at the time that this story takes place. Anthropologically, which aids us in connecting, into the time period. Right into it.

All because of the dignity and grace; and the acting choices, and ability of Oscar nominee, Viola Davis.

Supporting actress indeed.  She supported the whole movie, like a pinch hitter that slams a home run, then effortlessly trots around the bases.