The nature of evil and the legacy it creates is explored in a more subtle way in the new film NORFOLK. This accomplished piece of British drama, screened in competition at the Edinburgh International Film Festival following its World Premiere at the International Film Festival in Rotterdam, is certainly going to provide some food for thought. It receives it’s Official UK Premiere on September 21st, 2016 in Norwich at the Cinema City.
Director Martin Radich has crafted a movie that focuses more on the character traits and less on the acts as might be seen in a film like HALLOWEEN or SEVEN, although in those examples of cinema, they are particularly shocking to watch. NORFOLK is the tale of the relationship between a nomadic father and son who drift in rural Norfolk, spending their days hunting, fishing and daydreaming. However, like John Rambo, the father (Dennis Menochet) and the son (Barry Keoghan) are forced to face certain realities stemming from the father’s violent past.
NORFOLK is not a movie that is going to provide psychological thrills or a comprehensive analysis of why characters do what they do, but it does score points through it’s atmosphere and perceptiveness that is seldom acknowledged in a noir-ish setting. It is a remarkable compact work (running a mere 83 minutes) and is more of a slow-burner in terms of plot development and requirement. However, this is one of the film’s key strengths, making the pay-off at the end of the film all the more impactful on the audience.
Menochet certainly invests a assured and contained performance of emotional balance and his chemistry with Keoghan as the boy, who reminds one of an older version of David Bradley’s Billy Casper in Ken Loach’s British classic KES. What also impresses is the deeper psychological focus that characters seem to possess, willingly accepting certain hard truths about the heart of their existence.
Radich certainly has a bright future in cinema and has a good general affinity for bringing out the best in both his cast and crew. NORFOLK is a good place to start, although I am hoping for a broader sense of his talents on his future projects. Menochet and Keoghan have certainly done themselves justice with their great performances in this film.
Verdict
