Every so often, we see films with a social realist tinge that wallop us with their affecting quality. In Silver Haze, writer-director Sacha Polak continues her promising run of films that highlight the resiliency of strong female characters in the face of a heartless world. They’re not easy watches, but we’re all the better for pushing through it. Life is messy, and sometimes, we need to filter out the schmaltz that often comes with many coming-of-age films.
The remarkable Vicky Knight plays Franky, a troubled nurse who suffered severe burns from an accident in her youth. She blames her estranged father for the fire that turned the pub she slept in to ash and harbors bitter resentment toward him and his new family. Living with her burnt-out mother and impressionable sister in East London, much of Franky’s time is spent smoking pot with friends and hanging out with her deadbeat boyfriend.
Franky’s world is turned upside-down when she forms a bond with one of her patients named Florence (Esme Creed-Miles), who is recovering from attempted suicide. Their relationship rapidly progresses into a tumultuous love affair. Florence is just troubled as she is beautiful, but that doesn’t stop her from introducing Franky to her adoptive mother, Alice (a luminous Angela Bruce), and developmentally challenged brother, Jack (Archie Brigden), both of whom Franky forms a near-familial bond. Florence’s self-destructive nature soon infects her relationship with Franky, though no one is all that surprised.
“Florence’s self-destructive nature soon infects her relationship with Franky…”
Silver Haze isn’t a fun watch. Frankly, it can’t be because of the subject matter at its heart. It’s undoubtedly heavy, but we’re rewarded with something that feels unmistakably real. The romance, at its core, is like watching a train wreck in slow motion. Still, we wouldn’t want it any other way because of its authenticity and Polak’s determination to avoid pandering to more commercial sensibilities. Even the underdeveloped tertiary characters don’t detract too much from the overall experience.
The dueling performances of Knight and Creed-Miles largely carry the film. It’s impossible to overstate how impressive they both are. Knight is a fearless performer, and no matter how much society stacks against her, she never allows external forces to diminish her willingness to make things right. Florence, too, is a character anchored in a portrayal that reminds us of the best tragic leads in recent memory. If, by chance, that isn’t enough, we’re also blessed with a striking supporting role from storied actress Angela Bruce.
It’s not often that we get such a fresh and intimate story of love and revenge. When we do, it’s important to relish it, especially when we see two actors making such a statement. Like some of Andrea Arnold’s best films, Polak’s Silver Haze is an essential entry into the world of complicated and compelling young women living on the fringes of proper society. I caution fans of films like Fish Tank and American Honey not to miss this one.
"…fresh and intimate story of love and revenge..."
