Beautiful, interesting, incredible cinema.
HEMEL
Synopsis
Hemel frequently has one night stands with strangers, just as her father often changes girlfriends. Since the death of the mother, the two of them have a close relationship which tolerates no real commitment. But when her father falls in love, Hemel finds herself struggling with her emotions.
Synopsis
Hemel frequently has one night stands with strangers, just as her father often changes girlfriends. Since the death of the mother, the two of them have a close relationship which tolerates no real commitment. But when her father falls in love, Hemel finds herself struggling with her emotions.
Our take
Structured around a string of casual erotic encounters, Sacha Polak’s transgressive exploration of sex as a coping mechanism recalls Steve McQueen’s divisive Shame. Explosive yet vulnerable, Hannah Hoekstra’s revelatory performance lends a nuanced complexity to the girl-with-daddy-issues archetype.