aland-3 Review of Miss Violence

Miss Violence (2013)

As the mystery unravels, the tension increases.

[10/10 · 4 October 2013]

Of the 40 or so films I have seen so far at the Vancouver International Film Festival, this is the best. No. Wait. It is the best film I have ever seen. In the opening scene, Angeliki calmly leaves her eleventh birthday party, steps over the balcony of her family's Athens apartment and drops to her death. The reason for her suicide drives the rest of the film. Of course, your first guess is that she is being sexually abused, probably by her grandfather, the only man in a family consisting of two women, one teenage girl (besides Angeliki), a 10-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl. But not so fast. The grandfather, brilliantly played by Themis Panou, overcomes his embarrassment over his grand-daughter's death and leads the way in helping social services uncover the dark secrets of his family. And under the skillful direction of Alexandros Avranas, who also co-wrote the script, as the secrets are revealed, so the tension increases. But suspend your suspicions until the last ten minutes -- they may surprise you. Great acting by all the cast. I am reluctant to paste the cliché "riveting' to any film. Except for this one.