Phrases like 'slow-burning' and 'low key' cannot begin to give a true idea of this film. It is far from perfect, feeling longer than its actual running time, but rewards those with the patience. It is a story of redemption, consciously set in a gritty world of prostitution and sexual abuse, crime and corruption, that will be alien to most but defines the lives of too many.
Sadly, many of the characters are not fully realised. We have little sense of how anybody came to be where they are at the opening of the tale. The protagonist, Marley, is the only person with a backstory, but is played so flatly that it is difficult to like him despite his efforts to do 'the right thing'. Frederick Schmidt is capable of better.
I was also a little disappointed at the cop-outs. The ghost of Ana is given responsibility for some of Marley's actions. Although she is clearly a driver, it is he who has agency and should be portrayed as such. This shying away from the uncomfortable is reinforced by a theme of the film: the idea that men are waiting around for children in care to reach their sixteenth birthday is a myth, one that I cannot square with the rest of the story. Are we to believe that people who force women into sex, murder them, conspire with social services to access vulnerable children, and deal in drugs and financial corruption would somehow draw the line because of an arbitrary date? The organised abuse of teenagers in many parts of UK was no secret when this film was made.
If I sound harsh, please forgive me. I have watched this film twice now, and gained something each time. Perhaps the faults make the good parts stand out more. Whatever, an insightful and hard hitting film worthy of attention.
