Clean

There's a terrible saying: It takes two to be co-dependant. But that's exactly the kind of relationship between Lee Hauser and Emily Wang (James Johnston and Maggie Cheung) in the engrossing Olivier Assayas film Clean. Lee is a somewhat successful musician, but his best music and his money are a thing of the past. When Lee dies of a heroin overdose in a seedy Canadian motel room, his friends and the media blame Emily's influence as the major factor in his downfall.

Nick Nolte, who seems to be enjoying the plethora of weathered, gruff roles that are coming his way, plays Lee's father and de facto parent to Lee and Emily's son, Jay. After serving six months in jail for drug possession, Emily distracts herself by moving to Paris and doing whatever work she can find, convincing herself that she's making the changes that will see her reunited with her son.

Drug rehabilitation films come along quite frequently. Nick Nolte himself kicked heroin in 2002's The Good Thief and then robbed a casino, but Clean is a more human story. The character of Emily is strongly defined and thoroughly explored. We get a real sense of her life and how she's grown in to her current existence.

Filmed in three countries, mostly on hand-held cameras, and in as many languages, Clean is a visually exciting film with a great documentary feel. Along with the realistic performances, especially from the excellent Cheung, the film has a wonderful energy that pulls the audience along. We want Emily to clean up her act so she can get her son back, but it's evident that an ordinary lifestyle isn't for her.

Clean rates 4 stars.