The Veiled

The Veiled wasted no time getting under my skin. It's a small miracle of a film that seduces with it's captivating imagery while pulling the viewer down a dark rabbit hole that feels like a nightmare made terrifyingly real. A nightmare so many are living every day.

With a lean, elegant visual style, exquisitely composed shots and taut storytelling, we are given an unflinching look at a secret world hidden in plain sight. The rapidly escalating tension kept me squarely on the edge of my seat. The Veiled has been in my head ever since seeing it, evoking memories of haunted faces that have passed fleetingly through my life and left me wondering, what did I see, but not see? A truly remarkable piece of filmmaking.

I watched this movie in a packed cinema and the credits rolled to great applause, and rightly so. This film achieved that brilliant and elusive thing - the magic that doesn't always happen when watching a short: that you are fully immersed within a few moments of looking at the screen, believing in the characters instantly, and willingly finding yourself on the emotional journey alongside the main characters. It is BEAUTIFULLY shot; it shows us the story at every raw and real turn, rather than just tells us. It's suspenseful, and a little haunting.....the subject material is important and difficult, but it's sensitively handled. Events are resolved to an extent but you are left wanting more, and wondering. This could easily be a film for TV or a launching off point for something more from these film-makers. I love the obvious dedication with which this was made by all the storytellers involved. We truly loved watching this.....it's important that passionate people keep making unique gems like this film. And aside from all of that, the performances were excellent - so much talent in one package..

The Veiled is a wonderful film that shows us a glimpse of a difficult and sensitive subject matter in a gritty, but tasteful way. It is a film that can and should be seen by adults, as well as youth, as an indication as to what is out there. It opens one's eyes as to something that is hidden from mainstream society, but is happening to young girls in cities all around the world.

The film not only makes us aware of this issue, but offers further information on the subject, as well as information on what we can do to help.

The main character, Cassandra, has great depth, showing her passion, fears, courage and strength throughout the film. We also see the effects of her past on the present situation. She is your everyday girl, who could be anyone of us, which helps us really follow her into this ordeal. The film peaks into the everyday lives and turmoil of the other characters, as well, drawing us in to feel compassion for them and hope for their deliverance.

We feel a great win at the end, but with a note of defeat as a twist. We feel the suffering that was endured and know that it's not over yet for many, including Cassandra.

Haunting, eerie, yet thoughtful and composed with consummate care, THE VEILED follows Cassandra, an Australian fashion photographer used to shooting models by the breezy, open seaside as she ventures into the world of women shut away from the daylight. Visiting family overseas is also a chance to search for clues to the disappearance of her sister years ago, and investigate the dark underworld of local sex- trafficking.

Having made a financial success of herself, transforming a mere hobby into paid work, Cassandra now seeks to put her snapshot skills to more urgent purpose, using her camera to turn her lens back onto predatory men, as well as to snatch important images of their victims. Photographs are of great symbolic importance in the film as (among other things) a currency of proof: verbal tales seem to count for little, and the women Cassandra is trying to help cannot speak English.

Although short, the film is populated by authentic and often sinister performances, and shots are composed with high attention to detail and atmosphere, yet never cluttered or overdone. Overall, THE VEILED is a striking and powerful film about guilt, memory, and responsibility-- all structured around a terrible and urgent social problem. Take any opportunity to see it.

A brilliant insight into a very difficult subject matter. This is a film that needed to be made and has been done so with beautiful judgement, fine performances and skillful story-telling. The overall tone of the film is both deeply involving and harrowing, and reminds us of why we watch films. Sometimes, yes, it's for escapism, but other times, it's because certain stories need to be heard.