A masterful blend of audio and visual design invokes an almost euphoric filmgoing experience steeped in unease. A renowned dance school in 1970s Berlin becomes the new home for American Susie Bannion. The disappearance of one of the young girls has left a spot open and Susie is more than happy to take it. Madame Blanc (Tilda Swinton) takes a bit of a shine to her after an impressive audition but there’s some incredibly dark and disturbing ulterior motives at play. The schools head master, Markos, is never seen but her presence is definitely felt and Susie’s arrival is about to stir some shit thanks to the growing doubts of Madame Blanc and the truth behind the power dwelling within the school. There’s also a concerned elderly psychiatrist Dr. Klemperer (also Swinton) trying to follow the trail of his patient, the missing girl. The winding plots come tragically together as the Mother of Sighs is finally revealed in the intense and violent climax. Thom Yorke’s music is a haunting addition that feels both out of place and right at home in unison. The cast is excellent, especially Swinton, and there’s a wonderful and heartbreaking cameo from the original Suzy Bannion, Jessica Harper. It carries the same starting point as the original but is completely its own beast.
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