THE WAR ZONE
1999

July 15, 2001
IFC

A teenage boy discovers that his father is having an incestuous relationship with his sister.

-->Directed.....Tim Roth [A World Apart, The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, Vincent & Theo, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Reservoir Dogs, Bodies, Rest & Motion, Pulp Fiction, Little Odessa, Rob Roy, Everyone Says I Love You, Gridlock'd]
-->Written.....Alexander Stuart
-->Dad.....Ray Winstone [Quadrophenia, Ladybird Ladybird, Sexy Beast]
-->Mum.....Tilda Swinton [Aria, Orlando, The Beach]
-->Jessie.....Lara Belmont
-->Tom.....Freddie Cunliffe

Not the most uplifting tale, but haunting in normalcy of the family. Mom and Dad love each other and have just had another baby. Tom is around 15 years old, his sister Jessie about 17. They've moved from London to a cold and miserable coastal town because of Dad's job change. They are open and loving and cuddly with each other. Nudity isn't hidden amongst the family. Then Tom sees his sister and father in the bathtub. He begins by screaming at her in private. She is a bit embarrased about the whole thing. She thinks Tom is just jealous and wouldn't care if he had a girlfriend of his own. The mood gets more and more deep until the only conclusion that could possibly happen takes place.

The pacing and lighting and mood is at once happy and tragic. Quite a debut by Mr. Roth. The way that Dad doesn't wink at his daughter and is never seen shushing her or threatening her makes him even more of a monster than he otherwise would be. This is a hard film to watch, with a particular scene that goes on long after its point has been made, but it will stick with me for a long time. All of the performances are great, especially the two kids. I look forward to seeing them again in something much more light.