Amber Paul is magnificent in the lead, her face speaking to the audience even as she conceals a riot of emotion from the children. Her character’s situation is unusual, perhaps unique, but the concerns driving her decisions are universal. That distinctly artificial Sixties glamour becomes a mask behind which she can conceal her own pain. At the same time, the film gently reminds us that her wealth and status will shield her, to an extent, from the consequences of what has happened. At one point she passes a Black woman who has pulled over at the side of the road and is sitting in her car sobbing.
The amount of information communicated through detail enables this film to say a great deal in just 12 minutes. It’s a beautiful example of craft, and a deserving entrant in the race for the 2027 Oscars.
