At the start, we are presented with a man and woman, (Stokoe and Rundle) living a survivalist existence in a cottage in a wood.
She (Rose, obviously) has some kind of condition that needs careful handling and means it is difficult for her to go outside. He, Sam, is devoted to her and keeping her safe. Initial assumptions of some kind of post-societal collapse are blown by an early trip to a nearby village to get provisions.
There's not a lot to it but Rose is a skilled exercise in making very little go a long way. Sheridan's debut feature does a good job of stringing us along, tantalising us with glimpses of the bigger, but still not very big, picture and subtly defying expectations. The quiet tension is beautifully sustained. You know not much is likely to happen, but you're still compelled to find out what.
The title doesn't grab your attention but it does deliver on the post colonic: as played by real-life couple Rundle and Stokoe, from a script that he wrote, the film has a powerful sense of devotion. 3/5 stars.
Directed by Jennifer Sheridan. Starring Sophie Rundle, Matt Stokoe and Olive Gray. Available on demand from April 5th. Running time: 86 mins.
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