Post by stephen on Nov 7, 2019 19:30:42 GMT
If you're in the mood for a truly heartbreaking film with a ferociously raw debut performance, look no further than Dirty God. Sacha Polak's film packs the gut-wrenching power of Mike Leigh and Ken Loach at their peaks, taking the story of a single mother desperate to pick up the pieces of her life after an atrocity has been inflicted on her and making it feel so blistering. And it all rests on the shoulders of its arresting lead actress.
When we first meet Jade (Vicky Knight), she has just been released from the hospital after several reconstructive surgeries in the wake of a devastating acid attack. Desperate to return to her old life, Jade nevertheless finds it far more difficult. Her young daughter looks at her as a “monster”, Jade’s own mother (herself a single parent) is fighting with Jade for control over the child, and Jade’s friends are trying to reintegrate her into their social circle. But Jade has been irrevocably changed by her experience; she can’t help but think of every look as scrutiny, every smile as pity. So she embarks on a journey to reclaim not just her old life, but to create a new one in which she has control and isn’t simply a victim.
This is not a film for the faint of heart; Dirty God pulls no punches. And Vicky Knight—herself the victim of a terrible fire when she was a girl—is tremendously captivating in this performance. Through her, we know exactly who Jade is and can immediately understand not just her situation, but her mindset. It is certainly a star-making turn, one very much worth experiencing.
When we first meet Jade (Vicky Knight), she has just been released from the hospital after several reconstructive surgeries in the wake of a devastating acid attack. Desperate to return to her old life, Jade nevertheless finds it far more difficult. Her young daughter looks at her as a “monster”, Jade’s own mother (herself a single parent) is fighting with Jade for control over the child, and Jade’s friends are trying to reintegrate her into their social circle. But Jade has been irrevocably changed by her experience; she can’t help but think of every look as scrutiny, every smile as pity. So she embarks on a journey to reclaim not just her old life, but to create a new one in which she has control and isn’t simply a victim.
This is not a film for the faint of heart; Dirty God pulls no punches. And Vicky Knight—herself the victim of a terrible fire when she was a girl—is tremendously captivating in this performance. Through her, we know exactly who Jade is and can immediately understand not just her situation, but her mindset. It is certainly a star-making turn, one very much worth experiencing.
