A fascinating, unique story not ruined, thankfully, by the BBC/BFI house style (muted color palette, naturalistic performances, sparse grating violin music score). Joanna Scanlan is great as the white Muslim convert who travels to France to confront her dead husband’s mistress, and takes advantage of a misunderstanding to pose as her cleaner. She has revelation upon revelation about her husband’s secret family on the other side of the channel. You really feel for this woman even while thinking “What are you doing!?” as she extends and complicates the lie through her curiosity. You get the humiliation, the questioning and betrayal, as well as empathy - there’s a lot going on.
A fascinating, unique story not ruined, thankfully, by the BBC/BFI house style (muted color palette, naturalistic performances, sparse grating violin music score). Joanna Scanlan is great as the white Muslim convert who travels to France to confront her dead husband’s mistress, and takes advantage of a misunderstanding to pose as her cleaner. She has revelation upon revelation about her husband’s secret family on the other side of the channel. You really feel for this woman even while thinking “What are you doing!?” as she extends and complicates the lie through her curiosity. You get the humiliation, the questioning and betrayal, as well as empathy - there’s a lot going on.
