Review of Red Road (2006) by Andrew M — 21 Dec 2007

Very British.

Despite all of the usual comments that accompany small budget British film: grimey, grainy, grubby coupled with camera-shake and stilted dialogue I have to say I found this film strangely compelling. The sense of isolation experienced by the main character seems to be shared by those she is watching and includes the person who is her main focus. I think many scenes were stretched out unnecessarily as, within the first 30 minutes of the film you have understood the tempo, therefore, it was not necessary to maintain the same pace throughout. Overall, I thought it conveyed some deep emotions, spectacular vignettes, individual portraits and reflections on urban life but I still feel, in the back of my mind, that this could have been a film short and still packed as good a punch.