Sabine (Arsinee Khanjian), a high-school French teacher, reads an article to her students about a terrorist who plants a bomb in the luggage of his pregnant girl friend; it's discovered by security agents after she makes a flight to Israel. Simon (Devon Bostick), a serious and sensitive member of the class, is very intrigued by the story and in the process of translating it, adapts it to his own past. He sees himself as the unborn child, his mother as the innocent girl who is manipulated, and his father as the terrorist who is willing to advance his cause by killing 400 civilians. Years ago, Simon's Lebanese father Sami (Noam Jenkins) was driving a car that collided with a truck. Both he and his wife Rachel (Rachel Blanchard), a talented violinist, were killed. Simon is tormented as to whether this was an accident or his father intentionally crashed the car.
According to the last testament of his wealthy grandfather, Morris (Kenneth Wilson), which Simon videotapes at his deathbed, Sami was a killer. Rachel was a naturally gifted child who took to music at an early age whereas her brother Tom (Scott Speedman), with whom Simon now lives, was a trouble-maker confused about his true identity and calling in life. It is clear that the teenager is using this story he has fashioned to unravel family secrets that have been troubling him for years. When he then posts the story on the Internet, it becomes an obsession for his classmates and their parents who use it as a launchpad for their own discussions on terrorism, Muslims, martyrdom, heroism, and deception.
Atom Egoyan, the writer, director, and producer of Adoration, can always be depended upon for thoughtful, imaginative, and daring character-driven dramas that are beautifully shot and edited. In a stunning opening scene, Simon as a little boy stands by a river watching his mother, with her back turned to him, standing on a pier playing her violin; the music seems like a siren call to the moving water. The film has other striking images that will linger with you.
The character who holds the key to what Simon is searching for through his fictional story is Sabine, his French teacher. To learn more about his life outside of the classroom, she visits his uncle Tom. He is a tow-truck operator who has a quick temper, a bag of guilt he carries around with him, and a fiery hatred of his father who has let him know repeatedly how disappointed he was in him.
Adoration, which includes lots of religious symbols and dialogue on important issues in the life of this family, works well as a compelling probe on the mysteries of human nature.
