We first began hearing about this film last January at Sundance, and the word was that it was very... VERY disturbing. Not necessarily a film to 'enjoy' per se, but one to experience. I don't believe this has played the U.S. yet, or at the least I didn't see it come to Austin yet, unless it came and went really quick! I hope not, this one sounds... interesting..
Harry, here is my review from a film I saw at a press screening for the Edinburgh Film Festival Yesterday.
THE WAR ZONE
After an hour on the train, I got to Edinburgh. I ran to the theatre literally seconds before the screening was due to begin. I had to make a split second decision about which of this morning’s two press screenings to go to - Janice Beard : 45 WPM starring Patsy Kensit and Rhys Ifans or The War Zone - TIM ROTH’s directorial debut. I knew nothing about either so went for the latter. Right off the bat, I’ll say that this was probably the most disturbing film I’ve personally ever seen. I don’t mean in shock value, really, but rather in content.
The film is set in Devon, England. A family of four - Dad, Mum, 18 year old daughter Jessie her 15 year old brother Tom - have moved into the English country before the imminent birth of the next child, Baby Alice. The first half hour or so sets the scene… an isolated and frankly boring existence from the point of view of Tom. He has nobody to hang around with bar his family and obviously feels ironically trapped and claustrophobic in the vastness that surrounds him. The picture is painted of being almost cut off from all other forms of social engagement apart from the odd trip to the local pub (which is usually just the family and one or two old men and the publican).
Carrying the shopping home one day, Tom accidentally glances through the bathroom window on his way to the back door. It widens his eyes and changes his life forever - he sees his father and sister in the bath together. The film centres on Tom’s quest to find out definitively if they are having an incestuous affair, and when he does how he can vent his anger.
RAY WINSTONE (Face, Quadrophenia) plays Dad. Together with Nil By Mouth, this is probably one of his most challenging roles and pulls it off extremely believably. Until Tom witnesses him in a secluded building by the beach with his older sister, you are never quite sure whether or not this seemingly loving and pleasant father could actually be so twisted and evil. This is probably down to the versatility demonstrated by Winstone. Obviously it must have been a hard, hard choice to decide to take on such a controversial role, but, and I don’t mean this in the literal or any bad way, he fits it perfectly in the sense that you end up physically hating him. Mum is understatedly played by TILDA SWINTON (Orlando, The Beach). It’s never made known if she does actually know about the incest, but her son is convinced that she doesn’t and that is a crucial factor.
I have to admit though that the performances by both of the young leads - FREDDIE CUNLIFFE as Tom and LARA BELMONT as Jessie - are both surprisingly convincing and well acted considering that this marks both of their feature film debuts. The tragedy of the situation is well conveyed and Tim Roth’s direction is fluent and paints well the image of bleakness and hurt. He captures the loneliness and despair of Tom in a way that honestly puts Gary Oldman’s Nil By Mouth to shame.
I’ll repeat that I found this film disturbing. It was the only time that I have seen usually chirpy cinema-goers leave the theatre in complete silence. I found that at several parts of the movie my stomach was in knots but I could not leave as the story is so compelling - over the 99 minutes you build up this tension whereby you want the Dad to be, well basically, tortured and killed.
On reflection, if I had read beforehand any of the literature we were handed out when going into the show, I know for a fact that I would not have went to see this movie. It is to my benefit then that I didn’t. This is not going to be a massive film by any means in the States, but for those of you who enjoy those movies where you identify with one character and want to murder another (and don’t have too weak a stomach) I would recommend it when it comes out in the Autumn [/ Fall]. It deals with a sensitive and highly controversial topic effectively and compassionately. Well done Mr. Roth, but lets try and do something a little lighter next time, eh?
A K A
If I had to rate it, I'd give it a 7 or an 8.
