The Cellar

This is a very fine film with a well constructed plot with believable characters. As I am a determined reactionary, I can see that the anarchic "American" culture of drugs, violence, hip-hop and rap of youth has spread into once highly conservative Slovakia, a shame really. Advocates of Lex Talonis will be held spellbound.

Igor Voloshin's film invites for serious moral judgement. Throughout the film you are never certain what you would do under the circumstances. The film shows the dilemma of a parent caught up between allowing their child to enjoy herself at a party and protecting her in case the party goes wrong. Should you blame yourself when your daughter disappears? Did you even have a choice whether to make her stay or go? Olga Simonova acts brilliantly and displays the range of emotion you might expect from her character. The other major problem in the film is your right to justice when you are a parent driven by despair. Can you really be your own justice? Jean-Marc Barr is totally convincing as father and husband.