Silver Haze

Ah yes, the British cinematic trend of social realism. Now with more lesbians!

Silver Haze follows protagonist, Franky. Fifteen years ago, Franky’s family’s pub burnt down, physically scarring Franky. To this day, Franky searches for answers as she suspects foul play. Franky works in a hospital and meets a woman named Florence following Florence’s suicide attempt. What begins as friendship soon becomes a romance between the two women. Though their whirlwind affair begins to chafe and Florence begins to pull away from Franky. But before she does this, Florence introduces Franky to her family of choice. Alice is an older woman with a terminal illness. Jack is a young man who likely has autism. Even as things with Florence begin to falter, Franky finds a new closeness with Jack and especially Alice.

Like its name, Silver Haze is pretty hazy. It ambles from one scene to the next the same way its protagonist stumbles from life event to life event. There’s a vagueness to Silver Haze even while its visuals are blunt and unflinching. All of this feels fitting for a film that takes its title from a strain of weed. Whether or not an individual responds to this is beyond my ability to predict. I think it’s a very well-calibrated sort of vagueness that works with the story the film is telling. Could there be more structure or notable plot points though? Yeah, probably.

Franky’s new found family of Alice and Jack is perhaps the emotional core of the film. Or at least, my favourite part. This new, non-traditional family doesn’t mean Franky lacks ties or love to her biological family. It’s exploring these relationships that Silver Haze focuses on. Though it arguably takes too much time to introduce Franky to Alice and to set up that companionship. And Alice’s time is limited. Franky experiences new and different forms of love throughout the film, as well as different forms of heartbreak that come with such love.

Silver Haze doesn’t evoke a lot of thoughts I can turn into a review. This is a solid, very English character study that clearly takes a lot of inspiration from the British cinema of social realism. As a modern film, it continues to be exciting that the sole focus of this movie is not on its protagonist’s sexuality. Nor is Franky’s burn scars and trauma the sum total of her character. This is a well-crafted protagonist in a hazy, somewhat vague film that nonetheless leaves an emotional impact.

Overall rating: 6.1/10

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