Keswick Film Club - Electricity

Synopsis

The UK film industry seems to specialise in social realism, but can slip over the edge into soap-like kitchen sink drama all too easily. 'Electricity' takes social realism as a starting point, but drags it through the looking glass into wonderland.

Lily is working in a seaside amusement arcade, flirting with a customer. They swap numbers, but when she goes to meet him, her day disappears into a kaleidoscope of colour and fire; the electrical storm of the title - another epileptic attack has ruined her day.

Continuing our '(dis)ability' theme we started at the Festival, Bryan Higgins' film shows just how debilitating epilepsy can be, whilst using Lily's carefree attitude to life to stop us feeling sorry for her: she controls her own life. At least she does until an inheritance sets her off to London to find her wayward brother to give him his share. As she flits through this strange world of weird characters, her carefully ordered life is further thrown when a London doctor gives her a different prescription for her attacks...

Higgins' previous work has been mainly on television apart from one film ('Unconditional'), in 2012. He shows here that he has a great eye for detail, pushing Lily to the front in every scene. This works superbly, especially as Agyness Deyn gets great reviews for her acting ('by the time credits roll, she's ceased to be a fashion model that's dabbled in film ...and become one of the most promising young actors of her generation' ...'I could go on, but if you are not convinced by now, I don't know what else to say. 'Electricity' is a seriously great film, made by people with a burning desire to prove their talent. It is a tremendous achievement on all fronts and a credit to the British film industry' David James, We Got this Covered (London Film Festival Review)

A cracking film which fits well into our 'new UK Director' mould, with a new actor to boot. Definitely one we are looking forward to seeing; let's hope you are too.