Review of Red Road (2006) by Tibor B — 21 Sep 2008

Intense drama, the first in a trilogy masterminded by Lars Von Triers production company, which will include the same nine Glaswegian characters. The other two films will have a tough time matching this however, as Andrea Arnold's debut feature is a complex story of a grieving woman seeking closure on a tragic event.

Kate Dickie is fantastic in the difficult lead role, as she has to play an emotionally repressed character throwing herself into intensely emotional situations with complex, and confused, motives . It's not an easy watch, as the suspense builds uncomfortably slowly and the Glasgow council estates provide a bleak backdrop.

But the characters are so well written, and acted so well that the film does hold your attention, right until the surprisingly tender ending.