A tense, superbly acted drama/thriller; Martha (Elizabeth Olsen) has recently fled a cult and is fighting to escape the clutches of the abusive sect she once relied upon. Sean Durkin’s debut feature won the Directing Award at Sundance and the narrative is gripping as it navigates the trauma of a vulnerable mind taken advantage of by an oppressive regime. Taking shelter at her sister’s house, the film flashes between past and present as Martha struggles to adapt to life on the outside and reveals the tyranny of the cult, where women are slaves to men. Haunted by violent memories and with her damaged understanding of boundaries, the film evocatively suggests Martha’s state of mind as she struggles to distinguish between reality and the illusory.
This screening takes place in association with Brighton & Hove ’16 Days’ programme of events, which aims to raise awareness of the problem of violence against women, and highlight the connections between women, violence, and human rights. 16 Days marks the international 16 days of activism to eliminate violence against women that falls between 25 November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and 10 December (International Human Rights Day). For information about the help available locally see www.riseuk.org.uk and www.survivorsnetwork.org.uk
