Satisfaction

Had the pleasure of seeing this film -- and hearing it -- at SXSW. It's a movie that stays with you, isn't afraid to trust the audience to go on the journey. The cinematography is stunning, unwavering and set up as if each shot is its own piece of art. The performances are commanding, patient and do not look away from the ugliest parts of ourselves. I think it could have so easily swung into the melodramatic or waring, but instead it is the restrained performances, particularly of Emma Laird who plays Lola, that carries us through. I want to spend a season on a Greek island like this one, but not like this. Will be watching again. Bravo.

WOW. Satisfaction was so satisfying. The movie is set on the dreamy Greek islands where an emotional story unfolds about a woman named Lola, who's totally lost in her own world. There are themes of intimacy, identity, and creative silence, all with a bold, sensual edge. Emma Laird as Lola is amazingly subtle yet so powerful. The tension, the chemistry, and the way things spiral all feels so real and intense. The whole vibe of the film feels fresh and honest in a way you don't see often. It's bold, it's vulnerable, and it sticks with you. I'll be thinking about this movie for the rest of my life. Alex Burunova has a unique voice as a filmmaker. I can't wait to see what she dreams up next.

I saw this film at SXSW yesterday and during opening remarks from the filmmaker to 'let the film slowly wash over you' could not have been more appropriate. The outline here on iMdB sets the outline of the plot so no reason to repeat this.

The cinematography, acting, location (as noted on Greek island), music are all top notch. To echo the filmmaker indeed this is a slow burn that as the film progresses you begin to ask the obvious, hum how will this end?

It is very hard to describe the underlying pain the main female character, Lola, is experiencing without giving more away but there is one critical scene where the emotions on her face say it all. For her sake I pray this was shot with minimal takes.

An explosion does finally come but is one of beauty so do let this film wash over you.

No over-explaining, no unnecessary exposition-just pure, confident storytelling. Burunova understands that cinema is at its most powerful when it allows the audience to engage, interpret, and feel without being spoon-fed. Instead of forcing explanations, she lets the story breathe, using atmosphere, glances, and unspoken moments to communicate just as much as-if not more than-dialogue ever could.

Many films fall into the trap of over-explaining their themes, afraid that viewers won't "get it" unless every detail is spelled out. Satisfaction takes the opposite approach, trusting that the audience will pick up on the subtleties-the shift in body language, the weight of a pause, the tension in a moment of silence. It's a refreshing and rare kind of filmmaking, one that rewards patience and attention to detail.

Emma Laird is phenomenal. She doesn't perform so much as exist on screen - every glance, every pause, every shift in her body carries weight. There's a storm constantly building behind her eyes, and she somehow manages to hold it in without ever feeling distant. It's the kind of performance that pulls you in and quietly wrecks you.

Fionn Whitehead matches her with a kind of understated vulnerability that adds even more tension to their dynamic. The chemistry is raw, complicated, and at times hard to watch - in the best way.

And the ending? It leaves you with a knot in your stomach and a million questions. It's not about clarity - it's about sitting with the discomfort.

Alex Burunova is a filmmaker in full command of her voice - precise, fearless, and unafraid to live in the gray. Satisfaction doesn't offer closure - it offers honesty. And it stays with you.