SHAME – A review.

Shame, released in Ireland/The UK on the 13 January, is a film about a closet sex addict, Brandon, who is forced to face his secret addiction when his estranged little sister, Sissy, shows up to his apartment out of the blue on an extended and indefinite stay. It is directed by Steve McQueen and stars Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan and James Badge Dale.

The film follows Brandon from the beginning, where he was just about managing to maintain and conceal his addiction from others by undertaking a careful routine of furious sex, masturbation and porn. A routine he almost constantly adheres to whilst in the comfort and seclusion of his own home. But when his sister, Sissy, moves herself into his apartment, he is forced to confront his closet fixation. A task that sends him and his sister on a roller coaster ride of human emotion.

Certified 18+ for it's graphic sex scenes, it is not for the lighthearted. It's not a movie one would want to go to  with their parents nor is it first date material. It's a thinker – It's not just about addiction. It's about our innermost desires, weakness and sexuality. It's about the human condition in general but also focuses specifically with an issue that is more prevalent in contemporary society than many care to admit.

The viewer is thrown into the story with essentially no contextualisation. As the plot thickens, there is still a real sense of vagueness. Has Brandon always been like this? What sparked his fixation? Where did Sissy's suicidal tendencies develop from? Where is the rest of their family? Is some kind of shared childhood experience to blame for their unstability? This vagueness prods the viewer to almost construct a more detailed narrative around the plot for themselves.

Steve McQueen has said that he draws his inspiration from various minimalist artists. A minimalism that's extremely evident in Shame. This simplicity in shooting provides a great contrast to the already powerful story-line. It's a subtle simplicity characterized by the use of long take shots and seamless editing. Dialogue is used sparingly, placing a greater emphasis on the actor's ability to communicate emotion through expression –  a difficult task that Fassbender and Mulligan managed to excell in. The understated and tasteful approach allowed all the intricate and unfiltered raw emotions to shine through. 

As Donald Clarke of The Irish Times so aptly said "it's the most wholesome film made about unwholesomeness since The Exorcist".

Although in many ways we're not left with any sense of finality when the film closes, we're left with a glimmer of hope. There is however, no concrete ending. Again, McQueen invites his audience to choose an ending as they see fit. Whether Fassbender's character breaks free of the vicious cycle or whether he is forever trapped within it depends on your interpretation of the film's final scenes. Many people may find that unfulfilling but there is no way that all of the story's loose threads could have been tied up and presented in a way that wouldn't infringe heavily on the movie's integrity.

I'd give Shame 3.5/5. If you like powerful and experimental movies like Requiem for a Dream, You may find this to your taste.

Shame is now playing in cinemas throughout the country. Please see Dublin cinema showtimes here.