ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

‘RED ROAD’ has been one of the great Scottish success stories of 2006. Invited to compete at the Cannes Film Festival in May, it became one of the discoveries of that event and was awarded the Jury Prize.

It is a powerful tale of loss, guilt, revenge and redemption that features a stunning performance from Kate Dickie. It is a hard, heavy film that demands a lot from the viewer but rewards any effort with one of the year’s most satisfying psychological thrillers.

Writer-director Andrea Arnold won an Oscar for her short film ‘Wasp’, and shows great confidence and maturity in her handling of the story.

The first half of the film keeps you in the dark for what seems like an agonising, unbearable length of time. The second almost overcompensates by telling you too much and resolving too many outstanding issues.

There is a very fine balancing act at the heart of the drama. Dickie plays Jackie, a CCTV operator. We know there has been a tragedy in her life and that she is numb with grief. One day, she catches sight of the man who was responsible for her pain.

Clyde (Tony Curran) has been given early parole from a ten year jail sentence and is now attempting to go straight. She becomes fascinated by his activities, stalking him and befriending his flatmates.

As her obsession grows, it becomes impossible to determine whether she wants to kill him or sleep with him. The film becomes a compelling record of her journey from utter despair to possible salvation.

Nationwide release
Director: Andrea Arnold
Stars: Kate Dickie, Tony Curran, Martin Compston, Natalie Press, Paul Higgins
Screenwriter: Andrea Arnold based on characters devised by Lone Scherfig and Anders Thomas Jensen.
Certificate: 18
Running time: 113 mins
Country: Scotland/Denmark
Year: 2006

© Allan Hunter, 2006