Northern Light, drops us straight into the life of Lucien (Raymond Thiry) and his late-teens son, Mitchell (Dai Carter). It has been two-years since the death of Lucien’s wife and daughter (and of course Mitchell’s mother and sister). It is clear that Lucien is not coping and lives only for his work’teaching boxing to local kids. He seems to have no time for his surviving son, and when he does he is angry and negative towards him. At a family gathering there is a ghastly scene between father and son, which brings the situation to a head, and from then on we follow their respective journeys.

This is a slow-burner of a film with a fairly sparse script that leaves room for much well acted, well directed subtext. The two male leads are very strong and real, as is the setting’not the Amsterdam many of us would recognise, this is the gritty Northern suburbs.

Not a ‘big’ movie with a ‘big’ story, it is a very intimate portrayal of people (Perhaps I should say men.) dealing with and not dealing with, overwhelming emotions. The intimacy is very intense. In fact there is one sex scene that is so emotionally difficult for one of the characters that I felt intrusive and quite uncomfortable’but that’s what film festivals are for!

Very close shots with a handheld camera pervade the film, which, though helping to convey the themes, I found personally a bit annoying’not a fan of the handheld. However, If you like quietly intense movies and you’re not looking for the Hollywood ending’tears, hugs and ‘I love you dad’?then this one’s for you.

This screens with Norwegian short film, Sniffer, winner of the Palme d’Or (shorts) at Cannes this year. Beautifully executed, imaginative and just a bit dark.