Scotland, drugs and death.
When starting this movie you can't help but make the obvious comparison to Trainspotting. But where Trainspotting is loud and abrasive with its topic, this is a much quieter affair. Yes we have the odd drug fuelled dance scene as we follow Luci (Karen Gillan) as she drinks, drugs and sleeps away the pain of losing her friend who committed suicide a year earlier. But mostly it is quiet filled with conversations, monotony and the past constantly intruding on the present as she can't help but remember all she wants to forget. There are some funny moments from the dialogue, consistent use of the same locations adding weight to Luci's frustration that there must be more to life, as well as a couple of uncomfortable scenes, too. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but this is possibly down to budget which keeps the cast small meaning the story has to be carried heavily by Karen Gillan which leaves very little wiggle room for growth beyond her. Ultimately this is a testimony to Karen Gillan's acting, writing and directing and I do look forward to seeing other projects from her behind the camera.
Review of The Party's Just Beginning
