IT’S impossible to start talking about this film without going straight to Maggie Gyllenhaal in the lead role – she’s simply mesmerising.
She inhabits this role as a ex-junkie newly released from prison who returns to her family to reclaim her young daughter, who has been looked after by her brother and his disapproving partner during her jail term.
Struggling to stay clean and to re-establish a relationship with her child, we watch Gyllenhaal confront and battle her demons, the extent of which are slowly unveiled as the film moves on. An abusive father appears to be the starting point for her problems and his failure to change his ways sends her back spinning towards the edge.
My only complaint would be the brevity of the film, at the now almost regulation 90 minutes, as this was a character I really wanted to spend rather more time with.
Rating: 3/5
Extras: 2/5
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