This is a compelling and thoughtful film that illuminates the harder path of love and connection in the face of violence and division. It tells the story of two mothers, Anna and Maya, divided, but also connected by a crime in which one of their teenage sons - on the face of it - is a victim of the other. I understand it was written as a play, yet it moves to the screen effortlessly by intelligent use of set and location, underpinned by a sparse and haunting score. The dialogue is a superb exercise in the use of conflict to keep the viewer hooked, yet never feels imposing or forced.
The character of Anna is a detailed portrayal of a person coming apart at the seams, and is played with great passion and skill: through flashback the contrast of who she was before the tragedy compared with who she is after is stark, yet there's all the evidence of how Pre Anna would turn into Post Anna, and perhaps given time and love, turn back. The flashbacks of Anna and her son Joshua continue with the theme of division, their connection and simultaneous disconnection acting as a poignant vignette on the anguish of a mother letting go as her child matures.
Maya is also a very interesting character, played with great empathy and control: unlike Anna her anger appears to have been conquered, yet it is ever-present and perhaps more frightening for its repression; despite her religious faith and apparent composure Maya comes across as a dangerous character, her self-control tenuous, every bit as broken as Anna.
The use of shifting boundaries between Anna and Maya, their invasion and subsequent softening is a very clever way to show how humanity can triumph over suspicion, blame and hate. The concept and message of this film is a salve in troubled times.
