UNDER THE SKIN
****
directed by
Carine Adler
stars
Samantha Morton
Claire Rushbrook
Rita Tushingham
This intense, visceral and moving work from first-time filmmaker Carine Adler may not be for everybody. The premise involves Iris (a brilliant Samantha Morton), a daughter who feels her mother (Rita Tushingham) always favored her older sister Rose (Claire Rushbrook) over her. Early on poignant scenes show Iris, who is in her early twenties, becoming skittish and morose when she can't have her mother's attention. The calmer Rose has no idea how deeply Iris feels deprived and when their mother dies suddenly Iris is thrust into chaos. While some may choose drugs and some alcohol, sex becomes the confused waif's obsession. Dressing the part of a tart and acting in a slatternly manner, Iris puts herself in dangerous, debasing and destitute situations as she chases after men in general and a few pretty strange guys in particular.
The work pulls off the coup of being erotic, frightening and extremely upsetting all in one go. Samantha Morton does a fantastic job portraying a raw, crazed and very real character, recalling the stunning Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves (which was a similar role). In addition the filmmaker engages a number of techniques which intensify the young women's grief, loneliness and despair. Hand-held camera shots give the audience a chilling entryway into Iris's emotional state and even the often trite slow-motion effect is well employed here. Reminiscent of Roman Polanski's seminal work Repulsion, we can feel the character's altered and twisted emotional state. The flick is not a complete downer by any means. The possibilities of healing and family reconciliation are addressed and Iris, no matter how wild, never seems totally gone. Carine Adler has sculpted an intense psychological portrait which is both sexually explicit and thoroughly disturbing. If you like a challenge check out this great piece of cinema from Britain. Showing at 38
Over 230 more film listings in this month's Tokyo Journal!!