Shell has wonderful shots of the sparse desolate landscapes of the remote communities in the highlands of Scotland.
Shell is also a film of few words but it comes across as drab and isolated as its setting.
Shell (Chloe Pirrie) is a teenager on the cusp of womanhood working at her dad's petrol station. It is a place frequented by locals and long distance lorry drivers. Her epileptic father Pete (Joseph Mawle) spends time scrapping cars in the garage attached to the petrol station. He has been looking after Shell since his wife abandoned them both many years ago.
Both are locked in and need each other. Pete realises that it is unhealthy for Shell to stay with him. There is little in these parts of the highlands that has something to offer Shell apart from lonely divorced men and frisky teenagers.
There is no narrative here, Shell provides warmth to those who visit. Her father remains distant, as he knows this is what life is like here. Always has been and always will be, he decides to take matters in his own hands to force a change.
There has been several dramas made in the past such as this set in remote communities. I am thinking of Morgan's Boy from 1984 set in a Welsh hill farm which went for a bleak ending but at least it had more drama.
Shell is also a film of few words but it comes across as drab and isolated as its setting.
Shell (Chloe Pirrie) is a teenager on the cusp of womanhood working at her dad's petrol station. It is a place frequented by locals and long distance lorry drivers. Her epileptic father Pete (Joseph Mawle) spends time scrapping cars in the garage attached to the petrol station. He has been looking after Shell since his wife abandoned them both many years ago.
Both are locked in and need each other. Pete realises that it is unhealthy for Shell to stay with him. There is little in these parts of the highlands that has something to offer Shell apart from lonely divorced men and frisky teenagers.
There is no narrative here, Shell provides warmth to those who visit. Her father remains distant, as he knows this is what life is like here. Always has been and always will be, he decides to take matters in his own hands to force a change.
There has been several dramas made in the past such as this set in remote communities. I am thinking of Morgan's Boy from 1984 set in a Welsh hill farm which went for a bleak ending but at least it had more drama.