The absurdity and inescapability of the modern day housing crisis is a rich topic. Add our main character's abusive relationship and we have a strong setup. I'm rooting for her. How will she get through this?
Then a borderline-magical old woman gives her 'spare' land on which to build her own house. Yeah. I think I see a way out of her predicament... (rolls eyes so hard they whizz round like a fruit machine).
This act of alturism inspires others to manifest from the heavens and, lo-and-behold, a ragtag bunch of friendly dwarves, sorry, I mean builders, turn up to provide materials and services for free. They might as well be singing "heigh-ho, it's off to work we go". And then everybody clapped.
So, as an empowerment story, it is utter drivel. It yanks luck and generosity out of its butt when it needs to, instead of relying our heroine's inner resilience. As a drama about 'the system' or spousal abuse, it's patronising and depressing and has absolutely nothing to say to people who suffer in similar circumstances every day.
However, seen as a straight-up fairytale, it's occassionally charming with good performances, some likeable characters and well-trodden emotional beats. The ending is intended, I think, as a 'pheonix from the flames' moment, but comes off as cruel and unjust, signifying nothing.
Difficult to recommend.
Then a borderline-magical old woman gives her 'spare' land on which to build her own house. Yeah. I think I see a way out of her predicament... (rolls eyes so hard they whizz round like a fruit machine).
This act of alturism inspires others to manifest from the heavens and, lo-and-behold, a ragtag bunch of friendly dwarves, sorry, I mean builders, turn up to provide materials and services for free. They might as well be singing "heigh-ho, it's off to work we go". And then everybody clapped.
So, as an empowerment story, it is utter drivel. It yanks luck and generosity out of its butt when it needs to, instead of relying our heroine's inner resilience. As a drama about 'the system' or spousal abuse, it's patronising and depressing and has absolutely nothing to say to people who suffer in similar circumstances every day.
However, seen as a straight-up fairytale, it's occassionally charming with good performances, some likeable characters and well-trodden emotional beats. The ending is intended, I think, as a 'pheonix from the flames' moment, but comes off as cruel and unjust, signifying nothing.
Difficult to recommend.