Silver Haze

"Franky" (Vicky Knight) is a nurse who can't shake the effects of a conflagration fifteen years earlier that left her slightly scarred physically but more so emotionally. Partly, that's because she reckons that her mum's pal "Jane" was responsible - but there's no proof. Anyway, unable to hold down any kind of meaningful relationship she cruises through life until she encounters "Florence" (Esme Creed-Miles). This is a bit of a bolt from the blue for her as she falls completely and the two abscond. Their time together is turbulent at times, but it does give them the opportunity to plot revenge. Is that what "Franky" really wants though? Has she just become so hard-wired that she can't learn to move on? Things begin to recalibrate when she discovers that her beloved nan "Alice" (Angela Bruce) has cancer and rather predictably, the histrionics all calm down and the story rather loses it's spark. Aside from a rather odious scene on a bus - which may well be based on true events in London - the rest of this is an unremarkable love story (it's in no way a romance) that follows a bunch of unlikable characters about whom I couldn't care less after about twenty minutes of stereotypical and foul-mouthed characterisations. The acting is fairly visceral, to be fair, but it's presented in pseudo-documentary style some of the time then in a more straightforward form of drama at others with neither really engaging. It's contrived coming of age stuff that's neither original nor vital, sorry.

"Silver Haze" is a beautiful example of how the cinema still didn't run out of new creative ideas for coming-of-age films. Sacha Polak, the director, succeeds with her 4th feature film and her 2nd colaboration with Vicky Knight in creating an unmistakably small-town English aesthetic with depiction of struggling lower-class society. Vicky Knight shines brithly in the leading role with her rusty voice and cockney accent as she works her way through every part of Franky's story. From childhood trauma (both physical and mental), dealing with loss, discovering your true self and your sexuality (LGBTQ+), losing a family while gaining a new one "Silver Haze" presents a clear vision in all its aspects and leads the audience to a perfect closure at the end. I also have to mention simple yet intimate cinematography and a very fitting soundtrack, that pairs perfectly with what is happening in the film.

This is Director Sacha Polak and lead actress Vicky Knight second film after 2019's Dirty God, about a young mother who disfigured after an acid attack. Both starring Vicky Knight, herself suffering bad burns when she was a child. Silver Haze seems to be the most based on her life, it also has her own real life family playing her on screen family (her real life young sister, Charlotte is especially good as her younger sister in this).

This is Vicky's film all the way, and she brings it as Franky. Esmé Creed-Miles (Samantha Morton is her mum) is really solid as Franky's troubled girlfriend. She's not always most likeable of characters and this film has quite a few. It's not a easy watch, the really closed in cinematography also adds to tension.

I hope Vicky Knight sticks to acting and maybe goes off and does something out her comfort zone. She's got a nice presence on screen. Creed-Miles although nowhere near the actress her mother was at her age (Morton was one of best acting talents of her generation) just give Florence a likeability.

I sadly doubt the film will get much traction and that be a shame. I do think it's better then it's IMDB rating right now (6.2 of right now).

Franky (Vicky Knight) is a nurse who's badly scarred by a fire that happened when she was a child (Knight herself was burned as a child - the scars are real). She believes the fire was started deliberately by her mother's friend, who's now in a relationship with her (Franky's) father from whom she's estranged. Fifteen years on, Franky still dreams of revenge.

In hospital, Franky meets Florence (Esme Creed-Miles), the survivor of a suicide attempt. The two develop a friendship, and later become lovers, though they later break up. Prompted by Florence, Franky's quest for revenge develops into something more tangible.

The rest of the cast have their own stories to tell: Franky's mother, who spends her entire life on the sofa; Franky's sister, who's dabbling with Islam (she has a shawl and a prayer mat, but hasn't cottoned on to the fact that she's no longer allowed alcohol); Florence's grandmother (the excellent Angela Bruce) who has terminal cancer: Florence's brother, who has learning difficulties...

It can't be said that any character in the film is less than three-dimensional, but for me this added up to too many sub-plots and an over-crowded film.

As a depiction of British working-class life it's sharp and observant (without stooping to poverty porn) and the acting is solid throughout - as is the direction.

The ending is not the on the viewer expects, and might leave some disappointed by its slightly ambiguous nature, but I thought it worked well.

Vicky knight did an amazing job portraying her character, i feel she was probably able to draw upon her own physical and mental scars from her own burns and her own experience (yes her scars are real) , the character of florence is flawed and messy and annoying, and her story arc was inconclusive to me. I felt also that franky's story deserved a better ending but at least it was somewhat wrapped up, if slightly ambiguous.

I am a fan of these british made films that arent flashy and big budget, but raw and show social/economic issues which is the sad truth many face even today. The sister and mums story was a bit strange and not well developed but i have still given the film a 7 out of 10 as it did a really great job for its budget and its genre :) i will look out for more projects from the director and the main actress.