Confine

Confine is a true independent thriller that serves as a masterclass for the low budget independent filmmaker in today’s times. Shot entirely in one apartment, using available resources and creating a world where you never want or need to look outside it as well as having your main protagonist trapped (internally and externally) within the confines of four walls shows true indie thinking that has not sacrificed story or style.

Director Tobias Tobbell’s debut feature is striking from the first shot itself. The first scene shows the protagonist shaking with her hands covered in blood. A door is locked shut and we realize the prison she’s in. As the story unfolds we see the isolation she lives in, the prison she’s created for herself and how a burglary gone wrong compels her to fight all she has become.

The two leads, Daisy Lowe and Eliza Bennett are on fire from the beginning. Daisy Lowe plays Pippa, a disfigured former model who now is an art dealer living in her apartment alone and unable to face the outside world despite filling her abode with mirrors which she’s never too shy to look at herself in. Kayleigh (Eliza) is an intruder who hides in her apartment (note the dichotomy of the two souls – one hides away from the world and makes it her own safehouse while the other hides away in it temporarily by choice, hiding from the outside world but feels suffocated by her surroundings) and the relationship between the two is explored through the film.

Reflections of each other, Pippa and Kayleigh engage in a cat and mouse game which Tobbell has taken great delight in crafting on paper and screen. When Kayleigh enters she is a brunette who could be mistaken for Pippa, but while Pippa walks with a stick for an aid, Kayleigh strides confidently. Their body language is similar including when they are both involved in a physical struggle and seem fascinated with each others’ lives while focusing on the means to an end.

A twist takes place which adds to the reflection theme (I won’t disclose it here as it’s what’s considered a major spoiler) and we see an interesting scenario which brings out heightened tension and allows both Kayleigh and Pippa to come into their element. The conclusion is both gratifying and logical and we’re left wanting to see more from this exciting young director who has achieved a fantastic debut through knowing his craft.

Daisy Lowe is superb as Pippa. Her mannerisms, physicality and ability to portray the restrictions of her character while not succumbing to an over exertion of her disabilities is marvelous. Eliza Bennett delivers a powerhouse of a performance which has shades of good, evil and grey while maintaining the characters motives and reflecting Pippa’s suffocated self with ease. She elevates the film to another level and adds to the brilliant directing of Tobbell adding to the list of people associated with this film as “ones to watch”.

Overall ‘Confine’ is a taut thriller that has edge-of-your-seat moments, astute narration and performances that make it one of the standout films of the festival. It's a true triumph of filmmaking, tension & British cinema.