Dirty God

This film really hits home as it gets inside the head of the main character and takes us on a rollercoaster emotional experience. We are never quite sure where the film is heading, it really works on a more docu-drama level than any film I have watched since "Amores Perros". It has a very gritty approach to British subculture and the only violence occuring has preceeded the start of the film. Casting an actual burned actress in the main roll adds a dynamic that would be hard to achieve otherwise. Acting is first class, the film never lets up and really has neither a good or bad ending, it is just what it is - a snapshot of a beautiful young girl tragically maimed and trying to come to terms with a future, any future.

Built around a caustic, corrosive culture and society - British film, storytelling, at its most powerful and thought provoking best. Great performances all round, especially from the outstanding Vicky Knight, whose character resists letting her appearance define her, bravely trying to be a a regular teenager and forging her own path in the world, albeit with minimal help and support.

Jade (Vicky Knight) is released from the hospital after suffering terrible burns by her baby daddy. She struggles to renew her life. She cannot accept her scars as permanent. She is desperate to get plastic surgery. She saves up the money to pay for treatment in a Moroccan clinic.

This is my second movie with director Sacha Polak and Vicky Knight. Obviously, Vicky's look is very unique. She's a good actress, but her looks limit her roles. It's too bad. As her first feature, she really shows compelling work. This is missing the inciting incident. Unlike her second movie, it is more egregious since it could have been a simple acid attack. All in all, this is a terrific introduction.

... especially if you're a young mother in suburbian UK, whose emotional damage is even more substantial than her physical damage. Nice acting performances in an documentary-like drama. And even though the plot is not very surprising, the eye for detail and overwhelming soundtrack make up for it.

Powerhouse debut performance from Vicky Knight and I hope we see more frome her in the future