With International Women's Day in the news it seemed appropriate to talk about a film with women central to the narrative and in most of the key creative areas - screenplay, direction, production, editing and music.
"Under the Skin" is a small budget first feature written and directed by forty year old Carine Adler. The film won the Michael Powell Award for the best British feature film at the Edinburgh Film Festival, ahead of bigger-budget films such as "The Full Monty" and went on to win the Critics' Prize at the Toronto Film Festival.
Quite an achievement for a strong and uncompromising film that delves into the depths of grief and loss, from a distinctively female perspective.
Iris (Samantha Morton in her film debut) is single and a bit of a rebel, a clown adept at drawing attention to herself. She is convinced that her mother has always preferred her older sister Rose (Claire Rushbrook, "Secrets & Lies") who is married and expecting her first child.
The sibling rivalry escalates when their mother (Rita Tushingham) dies suddenly from cancer. Iris's way of dealing with her sense of anger and loss - the ultimate rejection - is to toss in her job in a lingerie shop, desert her boyfriend, and launch herself into a whirl of promiscuous affairs.
She even dresses up in her mother's wig, fur coat and glasses and tours the bars introducing herself to strangers as "Rose".
In contrast Rose retreats into her grief until the two begin to fight bitterly not only over Iris's behaviour but also over what is to be done with their mother's ashes and who is to have her favourite ring.
The performances from the cast of both young and more experienced actors are strong and convincing, especially Samantha Morton whose Iris is full of energy and edge. You may remember her from the TV series "Bank of Gold 2" which screened in Australia.
Director of Photography Barry Ackroyd has worked with Ken Loach, noted for his realistic portrayal of working class politics - "Riff Raff", "Raining Stones". In "Under the Skin" the use of hand held camera, slow motion and grainy stock, together with the editing, gives you the sense of watching the pages of Iris's personal diary.
Despite its topic this is far from being a depressing film. There are moments of humour and an underlying belief that people, whilst they may go off the rails, do not necessarily have to stay there.
"Under the Skin" is a stylish, energetic, insightful and very moving film. Watch out for it.
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