Emotionally Mangling, But Unmissable

Rating: 10/10 (8 January 2008)

Well, it's all been said in other reviews right here.
The first words that pop into my mind when thinking of this film are: "Oh my God", and that's because this is an awe-inspiring piece of work, made in the European black and white super-realism tradition of the 1960's, and so masterfully done that you feel like you are watching a documentary made just the other day.
It's painful; it's sad; it's powerful; it's riveting.
Sam Riley delivers a masterful performance as the doomed, sensitive, depressed Curtis (and you really do feel that), Alexandra Maria Lara is superbly gentle yet distant (hard to believe this is the same actress from Downfall) and Samantha Morton is brilliant as ever.
Yes, the direction does teeter a little on the edge of being self-important, but this is a hell of a movie that draws you in to being emotionally involved almost despite yourself, and the ending you already know is heading down the line remains shocking and very very sad.