Under The Skin

She has felt rejected, her mother (Rita Tussingham, also wonderful in a cameo) has favoured Iris's pregnant sister (Claire Rushbrook). Grief tips Iris into a confused, fractured lonely state.

Iris dumps her boyfriend and hits the bars wearing her mother's wig and old fur coat and indulges in a series of tawdry sexual encounters with strangers. She's bashing herself up and we fear for her.

Under The Skin does allow for a resolution of sorts for Iris, a point I hasten to add because I'd hate you to miss this gem of a film for fear of leaving the cinema hopelessly depressed, but even this "happy ending" doesn't detract from what is a magnificently compelling drama.

The performances are revealing and poignant and first time writer/director Carine Adler has excelled in all respects. The human dilemma is fascinating in skilled hands, but mixing a wayward, desperately unhappy woman and her jealous, hurt pregnant sister in with their mother's ashes has produced a superb little film.

And then there was another bonus. Gilbert O'Sullivan's poignant ballad Alone Again Naturally relives. I'd forgotten what a terrific song that is.