Strawberry Fields review

A tale of two sisters and not two cities.

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Drawing inspiration from films like Katalin Varga , A Streetcar Named Desire and My Summer Of Love , Frances Lea’s tale of two sisters sees flaky Gillian (Anna Madeley) and headcase Emily (Christine Bottomley) compete for the affections of rugged, strawberry-picking farmhand Kev (Emun Elliott) against a bucolic Kent backdrop during one sizzling summer.

Made for £100,000 via Film London’s Microwave Scheme, its simplicity is both effective and deceptive–a testament to the script’s intelligence and to the actors’ beguiling (if slightly histrionic) performances.

Attuned to the beauty of the rustic setting and the tensions bubbling beneath it, Dave Miller’s handheld visuals are an additional boon.

Freelance Writer

Neil Smith is a freelance film critic who has written for several publications, including Total Film. His bylines can be found at the BBC, Film 4 Independent, Uncut Magazine, SFX, Heat Magazine, Popcorn, and more. 

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