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A wide range of characters is played with nuanced subtlety. As Rosa, Rain has a naturally inquisitive approach to nature and her connection to it, which ultimately leads her back to native beliefs in magic that are tightly connected to the sea, land, animals and plants. Around her, most of the men are bullheaded in their own specific way, while Duran (as Stefan's wife) shows more cultural intuition and Munoz Millalonco's Aurora sees through male bluster.

This is gorgeous filmmaking, understated but bursting with huge themes. The script cleverly juggles this sternly religious German family, dismissive politicians, a hapless catholic priest and the local Huilliche who aren't considered people by the interlopers. So it's unsurprising where blame is assigned. Murray beautifully captures their strong sense of shared indigenous identity, echoed in birds, dogs, water, caves and trees. It's a reminder to mess with the mysteries of nature at your peril.

themes, violence

30.Jun.23 bifan

Hansen and Folsgaard deliver performances that reveal underlying personalities, highlighting hopes, connections and lingering bitterness. There's warm humour in their close relationship, but neither can forget. And one version of this couple is more open than the other. Directing and acting touches make it clear which variant of Stine and Teit we are watching at any time, so there's a realistic edge to the connections, fights and swaps, although Nemo always knows. Eventually, all four sit and talk it out, wondering whether this is psychosis or a parallel reality. This leads to some bonding, but the script stops short.

Pristine cinematography brings the isolated setting to life with a crisp authenticity, while skilful lighting, sound and editing offer eerie echoes and hints. It's a captivating idea to live naturally with no outside contact for a year. But while some want 100 percent honesty, others want to edit their lives to eliminate anything messy. So reality splinters as this marriage and family begin to come undone. Where this story goes is chilling and entertaining, and also rather tidy.

themes, language, violence, sexuality

2.Jul.23 bifan

Naturalistic performances keep things grounded even when situations become heightened. Zairizal makes Zaffan a likeable free spirit, a girl who thinks for herself and is unapologetic about how she feels. Even as Zaffan becomes increasingly menacing, the way she uses mass hysteria to fight back against those bullying her is sympathetic. Opposite her, Ezral brings out Farah's inner mean girl with complexity, while Piqa's Miriam may often seem like just a follower but reveals a surprising layer of compassion and understanding.

At the centre, Zaffan simply can't understand why everyone is so overwhelmingly concerned about shame. Rather than being repelled, she is drawn to the local superstition about another girl who went mad and was shunned. So the smiling doctor brought in to "fix" her is played as the true monster of the story. She sees this clearly, and acts accordingly. The movie may be repetitive and uneven, but it's packed with moments that take the breath away. And the way Eu keeps things current, while harking back to ancient legends and cinema history, marks her as a filmmaker to watch.

themes, language, violence

1.Jul.23 bifan