From the director of Amores Perros & 21 Grams, Babel is the third & final chapter of his Trilogy of Death which once again employs the multiple-narratives structure interconnected by a single event, further explores the prevalent themes of the last two chapters while adding a few more and features strong performances from its diverse cast to finish the trilogy on an admirable note.

Set in 3 different countries & interweaving 4 distinct plot lines, the story is set into motion by a rifle bought by a Moroccan herder whose sons, while testing it, inadvertently end up wounding an American woman who was vacationing there with her husband. When the two are unable to return home on time, their children's caretaker takes the kids to her son's wedding in Mexico while the ownership of the rifle is traced back to Tokyo to a man whose daughter is feeling rejected.

Directed by Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu & scripted by Guillermo Arriaga, the film marks the last collaboration between the two as a director-writer duo and takes its story on a global platform this time to relay its message that even though we are divided by the distinct languages we speak & different cultures we follow, our simple acts of kindness do carry enough strength to transcend those barriers & bring us together in moments of tragedy.

Compared to his previous two films, Babel feels technically more sound and even the non-linear narrative is easier to follow. Cinematography captures each moment in fine detail and uses different hues for different plot lines. Editing unfolds the plot in a relaxed manner yet its 143 mins runtime is rarely felt. And Gustavo Santaolalla delivers with a minimal but effective score that seamlessly integrates with the presented story.

Featuring an ensemble cast of Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael García Bernal, Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi & others, the film is packed with powerful performances from start to finish and Iñárritu succeeds yet again in bringing out the best from his actors. Pitt is absolutely gripping in his role and it's one performance of his that every fan will be proud of. Bernal rewards the director's faith in him expertly while the contribution of both Barraza & Kikuchi is as impressive as it is heartbreaking.

On an overall scale, Babel is an expertly composed, steadily paced & emotionally distressing drama that presents a bleak portrait of the world we live in yet concludes with a glimmer of hope that there's still some good left in it. Despite the difference in our lifestyle, society, culture, customs, cuisines & languages around the world, our tragedies & circumstances are similar at their core and if only we start to listen & communicate a little more, we just might overcome our inexplicable hostility against one another. Highly recommended.