Parents' Guide to Hot Milk

Adapted from the bestselling book by Deborah Levy, this directorial debut from writer Rebecca Lenkiewicz (Disobedience, Colette) is a bit of an enigma, just like its central characters. Secrets, traumas, and frustrations are constantly bubbling beneath the surface in Hot Milk, making the characters unpredictable and difficult to grasp. It's part of the appeal here, but it also keeps the drama at arms length. The concept of freedom is a central theme. The image of a barking dog chained up is reflected in the situations of all three women: Sofia, who's tethered to the role of caring for her mother; Rose, who's trapped by past traumas and her mystery illness; and Ingrid, who's burdened by guilt over a childhood accident. Each chain is preventing the women from living their lives fully, and it's this concept that drives the dramatic final scene. Shaw balances cantankerous with vulnerable, while Mackey's sense of closed-off but ready to blow is reminiscent of her Sex Education role. Both do a good job with what they have, yet there's something about the outcome that feels like the movie itself is being held back.