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Cast: Jessica Biel, Kaya Scodelario, Alfred Molina, Frances O’Connor
Emanuel (Kaya Scodelario), a troubled young woman, becomes preoccupied with her mysterious new neighbor (Jessica Biel), who bears a striking resemblance to her dead mother.
When an unexpected discovery results in a shared secret between the two, their relationship intensifies, and Emanuel's already-fragile world begins to spin out of control.
Emanuel's mother died giving birth to her which has left her with a feeling of regret and she blames herself for what happened. She has a hard time communicating with others and is very defensive most of the time. One day on her way home from work she meets Claude, a young man that seems to understand her, the two quickly form a relationship.
When Linda, a single mother moves across the street with an infant baby Emanuel is immediately drawn to her because she looks a lot like Emanuel's own mother. Emanuel offers to take on the job of babysitting for Linda but what she does not know is that Linda is hiding a dark secret of her own.
If possible do not read any reviews for this film that contain spoilers because the story has a gut-wrenching twist around the 22 minute mark that changes everything. I will not be going into plot details here because you need to watch the film for yourself.
I went into the film blind myself thinking I was going to see another girl gets obsessed with another causing deadly consequences kind of film but I could not of been more wrong. The film is so emotional it punches a hole through your chest and rips out your heart and those emotions are made better by some of the best acting I have seen in a long time. Kaya Scodelario as Emanuel and Jessica Biel as Linda both light up the screen with very powerful performances and the supporting cast which includes, Alfred Molina and Frances O'Connor were all amazing as well.
"The Truth About Emanuel" is what Indie film making is all about, it tells a story so powerful that it leaves you thinking about it long after it is over and it could not have had a better cast.
Production wise the sound is terrific and the cinematography makes the film both beautiful and haunting. I was engaged in Emanuel's story right from the start but when the twist hit I was taken back in my seat never to recover. Do yourself a favor and check out this fantastic piece of story-telling from Writer/Director, Francesca Gregorini. I cannot wait to see what this talented filmmaker has in store next.
Available on DVD and Blu-ray with Special Features that include:
Interview with the Director
Deleted Scenes
Outtakes
Trailer
You can order the DVD HERE and the Blu-ray HERE.
I understand that this is not going to be a film for everyone but if you love Independent Cinema or are just looking for something different then I highly recommend checking out this original, thought-provoking gem.
Released by Well Go USA
***** Out Of *****