Dalva

Empathetic drama that doesn’t over dramatise complex emotions arising from childhood trauma.

Quiet (and quietly rewarding) drama centered on a fine performance from Samson and a sensitive screenplay that masterfully traverses the landmines of a nuanced incest scenario, which never veers into exploitation or undermines the horror (and genuine tragedy) of the situation. Perhaps veers too much into predictability when Dalva’s relationship with Manenti’s sympathetic social worker comes to the fore, but is overall effective for its ultimately elliptical, open-ended resolution.