Inside the window of plasticity: They say language development in humans began with women. They were responsible for transmitting the narrative of culture to their offspring, both its’ wonders and its’ dangers, so they could navigate safely. This dynamic was clearly evident between Ma (Brie) and Jack (Jacob). First there was the story of ‘room’ – its’ blessings and dangers (sink, rats, and ol’ Nick). At five Ma considered Jack old enough to learn the real narrative of the world outside – replacing the fairy tale version she told him before – and hoping he could navigate his way to safety (wiggle, roll, jump, run and call for help). He succeeded even though he was dazed by space, distance and people he’d never seen in 3D before. This was the beginning of transition from a life of confinement in a 10X10 room (since birth) – to the strange expanse of the world at large for Jack. At first he had no depth perception. Distance and peripheral vision faded to blur way too quickly. Voices other than his mothers’ sounded off-beat and arhythmical. The rules of social interaction were foreign. He could only communicate through his mother. But he was well inside the window of plasticity. His mother didn’t immediately rush out to embrace the world. After seven years of stoic existence – the trauma of captivity finally caught up with her. She didn’t get a makeover and party with her girlfriends like she was 17. And Jacob didn’t immediately embrace his grandparents or join a t-ball team. He did make friends one at a time and came to recognize his grandmother as another ‘ma’. I think these are the realities of re-entry that the movie captures so well.
