This is a beautiful metaphor of how trauma affects the psyche, in particular the harmful relationships within the family. The heavy atmosphere of the film reminded me of Eastern European arthouse cinema. The alienation, the terrifying feeling that something awful is about to happen (when in fact it has already happened) is elegantly conveyed by alternating images of vast and deserted spaces against the menacing background of an out of service nuclear power station. The isolated house where Emma finds shelter is just an allegory of her mental space tormented by fears. The toxicity is all-around, in the inner as well as the outer world, which makes the title of the film a brilliant choice. Talking about the permanent play of contrasts the director uses to tell this story, I loved the character of the strange boy. He is the reflection of Emma's desire to escape her innermost demons, elegantly expressed through the juxtaposition between the girl's attraction to dive into the depths of contaminated waters and the boy's dream to climb the heights of the threatening building. In conclusion, this is a very thoughtful and atmospheric film which delivers an original cinematic experience.
