The Limit Of

I watched this movie over the weekend and some of the scenes really stuck with me so I searched for a bit more information on it. I knew it wasn't a film made for millions, but reading that it was made for 35,000 is amazing. Really puts it in perspective. It isn't even a salary for one person, nevermind a whole crew and cast. The film visually looks like it belongs on the netflix platform. Granted in some scenes the budget shows both visually and in the storyline. The actors are compelling and I'm sure the two leads could be stars in the future, plus the nurse. The storyline is more a character study in ways, following the lead actor through an emotional time in his life which he processes very much internally. This makes for a slow burn slow but layered. The soundtrack is out of this world. This singer has been a new find for me. For a movie in the grand scale it is an interesting watch, but for a 35,000 euro movie it is a 10 out of 10 for me. There are a few scenes in the movie (and songs) that really stick with you.

This film is quite cool and stylistic but in a realistic way. It feels to me, that if the same script was on a bigger budget (I'm assuming this was a small budget) I feel it would draw a particular audience as it reminds me of other stylistic films that are shot in a beautiful way, almost like they are a sequence of still pictures, and then there is unusual sexual tension between the two main characters, who are a bit strange and don't say much, and don't ever tell what they are actually thinking - This is rare in movies today, as we are usually spoon fed.

Even though a big budget and known cast would work here as an arthouse film, I have to say that the cast give very real performances. I definitely will keep a look out for more from the actor who played the main character.

This is 90 minutes of my life I will never get back again. Stylishly made on a low budget, but there is little script, just a tediously slow film of very few words, strained looks and pregnant pauses.

Nothing much happens in what is a tedious and utterly depressing film that may send insomniacs into a deep sleep.

One to avoid.

A slow burn film, so people who prefer faster paced films, it might not be for them. The slow pace is definitely deliberate, as the style remains the same throughout the film. I wouldn't describe it as a thriller, more of a drama with some thriller aspects. The performances are strong. I liked the leads but in particular the girl who played the home nurse was wonderful to watch. The film looks great, it makes Dublin city look like a European capital city. Being from Dublin, this was nice to see in a movie.

The film starts out like a sort of social/political commentary delivered through slow motion acting, sparse dialogue and somber music that's telling us that we are watching Art. Archetypes like the Evil corporation with the inevitable heartless manager and the dehumanized workers, whether they're adapting to the system or resisting it, are delivered heavy handedly enough that the film reaches dangerous levels of kitsch. Our male protagonist is taciturn and slightly woody and curiously unattracted to the beautiful and vulnerable female colleague who approaches him. But just as you're about to lose interest the film takes a violent and strongly erotic turn. There's no actual sex involved, yet the sexual tension between our protagonists is off the charts. Directors of erotic movies take note, *this* is how it's done. It's so exceedingly rare that the movie gets 2 extra stars.