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There's a remarkable intimacy to the scenes between Haider and both Mumtaz and Biba, each rippling with its own strong subtext. Junejo, Farooq and Khan are terrific at finding subtle textures in these roles, creating complex people the audience can't help but sympathise with on a remarkably deep level. Haider, Mumtaz and Biba have very specific yearnings, and where this takes them is both wonderful and shocking. All three performances are both bold and delicate, and they're beautifully balanced by the supporting cast members around them.

While the film is essentially Haider's coming-of-age journey, the surrounding characters and wider repercussions make the story exhilarating, especially as he quietly stands up to the restrictions of a society that has never let him live his own life. Along the way, the film gently reveals how everyone stages their own war against the system, while the twists and turns of the plot add layers of meaning, including strong doses of irony and well-earned indignation.

themes, language, violence, sexuality

4.Jan.23

The filmmaking approach requires actors to dig deeply into their characters' physical and emotional reactions. Krieps finds wonderful resonance in Helene's emotionality, radiating curiosity and intelligence as she fights to understand conflicting feelings. Even when they clash, Krieps and Ulliel convey this couple's tenacious bond. So moments of intimacy carry an unusually honest kick. And the offbeat interaction between Krieps and Floberg is also moving, simply because of what doesn't need to be said.

Atef depicts Helene's experience from the inside out as she strains to make sense of the clashing thoughts swirling inside of her. So contradictions are allowed to exist, and even help push the film forward. She loves Matthieu with her heart, soul and body, and yet needs to be away from him at this point in her life, even though that causes pain for both of them. These kinds of dark emotions make the film feel rather morose and bleak at times, but it's also an unusually truthful way to tell a story.

themes, language, violence, sexuality

17.Jan.23

Naturalistic performances match the filmmaking style. The camera remains close to Minujin, a likeable, empathetic figure whose decisions are gripping. The actor skilfully balances Lucio's feelings as he faces issues with his father, daughter and Dilan. All of these scenes are played with sensitivity and insight that transcends the way the script heaps so much on him at the same time. But he builds terrific connections along the way, including in underwritten subplots relating to Mariela and a fellow teacher (Merlino) who knows the neighbourhood.

Cinematographer Wojciech Staron adds clever counterpoints to each scene, and Lerman directs everything with an earthy realism that showcases Argentine working class life that is rarely depicted on-screen. This makes the narrative structure eerily obvious, as various momentous situations build around Lucio at the same time, climaxing in a series of scenes that refreshingly avoid the usual overwrought angst or action mayhem. Instead, he is forced to plot his way through all of this in a way that's easy for us to identify with him.

themes, language, violence

17.Jan.23