Director: Lance Hammer

Stars: Juliette Binoche, Tom Courtenay, Anna Calder-Marshall, Florence Hunt, Cody Molko

American writer-director Lance Hammer’s North London-set drama ‘Queen at Sea’ follows a middle-aged woman, Amanda (Binoche), as she struggles with her mother’s dementia. In the film’s striking opening sequence, she walks in on her stepfather Martin (Courtenay) having sex with her mother Leslie (Calder-Marshall). Amanda is shocked and disgusted as her mother’s doctor has declared that Leslie’s dementia means that she can no longer consent to sex. She calls the police who charge Martin with sexual assault. Martin, however, insists that he is to stay in the house with his wife, in defiance of his bail conditions. Meanwhile, Amanda’s teenage daughter Sara (Hunt), who Amanda is bringing up single-handedly since separating from her husband who is teaching in Canada, has begun a relationship with local boy James (Molko). Hammer exhibits a keen feel for the North London environs, with the casting of real care workers bringing another level of authenticity, while he explores some knotty and complex issues about consent and generational conflict. Rendered in wintry blue and grey by cinematographer Adolpho Veloso, this can be a bleak and taxing watch. Binoche is a wan presence, but the picture comes to life when Courtenay is centre stage, and in the sweet scenes between Sara and James.

David Willoughby

Follow David on Bluesky @davidwilloughby.bsky.social