Downloading Nancy is the feature directing debut of Swedish director Johan Renck who also directed an episode of AMC's Breaking Bad.  Since B.B. is one of my current favorites on television, I really had high hopes for this film.

     This dark and tragic film follows a desperate and alone woman (Maria Bello) who meets a man over the internet (jason Patric) to not only kill her, but kill her in such a sadistic way that she will get off on it.  But as the two spend time together, the man slowly discovers that Nancy is his soul mate.  At the heart of the film, a dark love story emerges. Nancy's husband (Rufus Sewell) is clueless to her self-inflicted pain habits and he becomes suspicious after she is missing for several days.  Her therapist, played by Amy Brenneman, seems to be the only person really trying to help Nancy break the self-hate cycle.  As we see the story play out we hope Nancy listens to the voice of reason her compassionate therapist provides.

     Downloading Nancy premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Fesitval and was nominated for a grand jury prize but it was reported that many people walked out of screenings, and for good reason.  This film is not for the faint of heart and shows graphic self mutilation.  Thus based on a true story, it does depict people who have been damaged so deeply, the pain becomes a familiar and necessary emotion.  Award winning cinematographer Christopher Doyle used top down lighting and muted the color so not a single color stands out, creating a numb but romantic, impressionistic look.  Both Bello and Sewell's strong performances illustrate the tension and separation between an isolated wife and husband.  Even though the couple is rarely in the same room throughout the film, the brutal first act makes the viewer wonder why they hadn't separated earlier.  By the end of film, you have to question if you can feel sorry for Nancy or is she playing the victim card a little too much.

     I was hopeful for Nancy, but was soon saddened and shocked by the drama being unraveled on screen.  Downloading Nancy will slowly creep up and deflate any happy thoughts you might have had.  Consequently, it will take a while to recover from the astonishing ending and by seeing this film it should open up a dialogue about women who are abused and unloved and how this affects their lives and loved ones.