Carla

Sought out this film for an Ian Glen performance. Could not stomach it even to get to his scenes. I am just sorry that such a good and interesting actor as Iain Glen has not been better taken up in film, with better parts. He is such a distinctive character, sensitive and having strength as well. This movie is just a mass of confusion and his contribution to it surely did not enhance his career. I credited his performance in Downton Abbey, Wives and Daughters and a smattering here and there. Sorry for him that he had to be involved with this turkey. He seems to have done well in "Thrones," a television vehicle. The lead female character here (not Carla herself) is a cow, unsympathetic and unattractive. Surely a low budget vehicle. Avoid.

The creator of Waking the Dead Barbara Machin created the screenplay for this drama, based closely on Joanna Hines's novel 'Improvising Carla.'

Helen has arrived in Greece, holidaying alone, whilst waiting for her luggage she briefly meets Carla, another British girl travelling solo. The pair go their separate ways, but another chance meeting draws them together, and Helen's holiday becomes one to forget.

It's a clever story that keeps you guessing and wondering right until the very end, the ending is a real shocker too.

A truly excellent cast, Iain Glen, Lesley Sharp, Shaun Dingwall, Michael Fassbender, but the star of the show undoubtedly is Helen McCrory who plays the title role. She is an outstanding talent, and a very beautiful woman. She got me hooked when she played Anna Karenina.

It's a brilliant drama, so well acted, but the story is so good too, it's highly original. The fight scene between Helen and Carla is brilliant, and Helen's realisation of what she's done is so good. I cannot believe this was never commercially released, and that there is so little interest in it. A tragedy, but A Gem 10/10