H
This is a mesmerizing and dreamy movie, directed by Lucy Cohen. It takes place on the Cornish coast in the summer of 1991, a time before smartphones existed. While it may have some inconsistencies and not everything may work perfectly, it is captivating in its use of setting and visuals, as well as its changes in tone. There is also a disconnect between what is happening in the film and the sense that some parts could be a hallucination, a manifestation of trauma, or a recollection of a dream.
In a rugged coastal setting, Yvonne (played by Josie Walker) has retreated to a rented cottage with her reserved 11-year-old daughter, Evie (played by Flora Hylton), to regroup and recharge. Her husband is absent and it appears that Yvonne is taking a break from their marriage. She promises Evie they can spend quality time together during this uncertain period, but Evie is shocked when a male friend of her mother’s, the creepy and overly flirtatious Tony (played by Steffan Rhodri), unexpectedly arrives. Yvonne tries to downplay the situation, but Evie senses that her mother intentionally orchestrated this uncomfortable situation. Feeling upset, Evie befriends Adam (played by Joel Sefton), a boy her age who is also missing his father, who has left the family. However, Adam’s mother (played by Nichola Burley) is keeping a secret from him and Adam is hiding something from her.
The bond between Evie and Adam grows as he leads her to an abandoned tin mine where they hear eerie, unearthly noises. Is this a tale of a haunting? The storyline remains ambiguous. The unsettling events do not progress as one would anticipate. Evie simply tolerates them with a somber mood, adding to the unpleasantness of their vacation.
The change in tone is startling when she returns to the cottage and discovers her mother in bed with Tony, a disturbingly explicit revelation. The purpose of the mysterious trips to the abandoned mine and their meaning for both Evie and the audience remains unclear, especially since they are followed by scenes of everyday life without any explanation of how Evie emerged unscathed. The lack of a future perspective or commentary leaves us to ponder the oddity of it all. While not flawless, it is certainly intriguing.
Source: theguardian.com
