Cracks

Cracks, based on Sheila Kohler's novel, is a film by Jordan Scott, starring Eva Green. Set in 1934, it gives us a look at the lives of the girls in a prestigious boarding school in Great Britain. More specifically, how the lives of the girls in the school's diving team are affected by the arrival of a new student.

I watched this movie purely by chance, but I was pleasantly surprised. The story is interesting enough, but what really pulled me in was the impressive performances by the young cast, the stunning scenery, the eerie, isolated atmosphere of the school and the beautiful costumes. The interactions between the characters and their ever-changing dynamics made for a realistic portrayal of teenage girls, and the significance older role models but also their peers have in their psyche. It's a pretty standard premise: The newcomer who threatens the status quo of the queen bee and disrupts the balance of the team, but the story remains fresh and not without some dark turns.

The film's beautiful cinematography is the work of John Mathieson, best known for his career in the music video industry who has also been nominated twice for an Academy Award. Allison Byrne is the costume designer who's been nominated for an IFTA Award for her work in Cracks.

Without giving too much of the plot away, I hope I've intrigued you enough to watch it. Even if the story fails to engage you, you could at least admire the English countryside and the pretty dresses. Not a bad way to spend 104 minutes, right?

Until next time, watch a film.

xoxo