LFF: Hold on tight

It's only Wednesday, but it's already been a busy week so far at the London Film Festival - I haven't had time for the online discussion and interview events, as I've been busy watching films and writing about them. I'm also heading out into town for a couple of non-LFF live events today and tomorrow. Meanwhile, the latest batch of festival films has been unusually strong, telling pungent stories from all over the world. Here are three more highlights, from three continents...

Rose: A Love Story

dir Jennifer Sheridan; with Matt Stokoe, Sophie Rundle 20/UK ****

There's unnerving horror at the centre of this offbeat British drama, which quietly builds a freaky mystery. Writer Matt Stokoe and director Jennifer Sheridan dribble clues carefully into the narrative, keeping the audience off-balance from the start while allowing us to work things out. The film's intense atmospherics are powerfully gripping, finding complex emotions in a story that's properly terrifying, even if it takes us awhile to realise why.

The Intruder

dir-scr Natalia Meta; with Erica Rivas, Nahuel Perez Biscayart 20/Arg ****

Inventively mixing real-life humour with some seriously unsettling horror, Argentine writer-editor Natalie Meta boldly spins a bizarre story about a woman on the brink. It's not an easy film to stick with, as it continually wrongfoots the audience (and the central character) about what's actually happening here. But it's made with such a hypnotic tone that it's impossible to turn away, especially as things get progressively freakier.

The Salt in Our Waters

dir-scr Rezwan Shahriar Sumit; with Titas Zia, Tasnova Tamanna 20/Ban ****

Skilfully shot in picturesque locations, this earthy drama from Bangladesh explores a mix of culture, politics, religion, art and commerce in a rural community. The push and pull between an educated interloper and the traditional locals is beautifully played, with a refreshingly understated script and offhanded performances.

NB. My anchor page for the LFF is HERE and full reviews will appear in between these daily blog entries. That's the plan anyway.