Film Reviews

Red Road

• Rating:
• Director: Andrea Arnold.
• Starring: Kate Dickie, Tony Curran, Martin Compston, Andrew Armour.
• Details: UK / 113mins (18).

Written and directed by Andrea Arnold, Red Road is a grimmer-than-grim drama that documents a week in the life of Jackie (Dickie), a lonely CCTV operator. Scanning over her cameras one night, Jackie spots a man (Curran) she knew from years before. For reasons unknown to us, he is a man she never wanted to see again and decides, against her better judgement, to confront him. Jackie tracks the man down to the Red Road council flats and, pretending to be attracted to him, enters his life with the hope of destroying it for the pain he caused, giving her peace of mind in the process. It's grim up north again: Jackie's Glasgow is that of high-rise flats, rain-soaked alleyways littered with discarded needles, greasy spoon cafes with lipstick on the cups, and lifts that smell like vomit and urine; Red Road is not exactly a light-hearted comedy. Keeping the viewer guessing as to why Jackie is hunting the man down until the very end keeps the anticipation levels high throughout; and as a result, is one of the most engaging character dramas released this year. Arnold's use of the CCTV monitors was a nice touch as it manages to break down the barriers between reality and fiction, and the action that takes place feels very authentic as a result. Low on budget, low on dialogue, but high on intrigue - Arnold's film gives more than a nod and a wink to Rear Window, as voyeurism, and all its ills, is again given an outing.

Review by Gavin Burke