while the film has some heartfelt exchanges of kinship & empathy, however, it is also punctuated by moments of abject despair; This is crucial to a core message that moves beyond the healing power of art towards the entitlement those who make it possess
the director's handsome debut feature, flirts with becoming a savage indictment of affluent do-gooderism, but finally swerves to land on a vision of fraternity that's altogether more optimistic
it is a human-oriented drama that builds a thoughtful and contemplative space, empathising with characters grappling with difficult circumstances outside the common experience. It is also the kind of drama you sometimes want to grab and shake to life
Hugo Weaving delivers a fascinating performance in this powerful and poetic film; "Hearts and Bones" is more than an affecting drama; The film brings these suffering faces – the faces of the subjects of their photos – and breathes life into them
Ben Lawrence builds a series of overlapping conflicts, bringing them slowly to the boil, keeping us guessing; "Hearts and Bones" is a thoughtful and engaging story, driven by exceptional performances
an intimate film tackling an expansive subject -- the treatment of refugees around the globe, and the way the world processes the traumas that lead to such urgent, widespread immigration -- this is a poignant and morally complex drama
by Luke Buckmaster [The Guardian ]
