Scarborough

Scarborough asks us to get past the nudity, the sexual heat and blatant titillation and consider the dynamics and consequences of these situations.

While the film struggles to fully disengage from its theatrical origins, it is an intelligently slippery study which positions the audience in the grey area between empathy and complicity.

Southcombe deftly threads together the two stories with echoes in the dialogue and in the location.

Scaborough doesn’t try to shock audiences, but its attempt at a surprise is sadly predictable.

The performances are strong and full of passionate conviction, which somewhat moderates the problematic aspects, while the use of natural light and tacky seaside textures does succeed in generating some atmosphere.