It's taken me a while to get round to reviewing this no-budget film. I thought I'd wait until watching it on DVD again before writing something so the film was fresh in my head. 'Restless Dust' is truly 'no-budget' filmmaking, with a cast of unknowns, and shot on a camcorder. The only flaws to the film are the technical. The images, though really well-composed, are grainy (think clerks), but surprisingly this doesn't detract from the story.
The cast consists of three main characters and a couple of smaller roles, all played naturally, unlike the director's last film which was a little hit and miss. The three leads give some of the best acting I've seen and are all destined for great acting careers. Jaz Deol as the sinister, controlling, abusive husband is brilliant. You're never quite sure what he's going to do next, and in one scene he explode in a devastating rage which doesn't feel in the least bit forced. It's terrifying. Naomi Haughton, playing his wife in the film is reserved, but beneath the surface is bustling with passion. A nice performance. Up against Jaz Deol's character is Michael Henry's character who gets stuck between a rock and a hard place. The performance is pained and he really makes you care for his character. His nerves and moments of despair are raw, and very hard to watch.
Unlike his last film, which is consistently bleak, there is occasional humour which makes the film easier to watch, and the characters feel more human because of it.
As I mentioned the technical side is the only real let down. The camera and sound are not perfect but the story, acting and characters are so engaging that you won't be distracted. The music by Sebastian Moody is absolutely beautiful. The story is well paced and surprisingly more than a generic domestic abuse film. The themes the director deals in are more profound than you usually get from realist films. Morality in an atheistic world, dealing with loss, redemption - the villain/hero divide never seemed quite so blurred as here. Oh and there's a tonne of obscure film references which I must admit I hadn't heard of.
So all in all a really good no-budget film with strong central performances and interesting themes. Highly recommended!
