It’s difficult to look away throughout Miss Violence, a film that doesn’t shy away from depicting the dark reality of domestic conflict.

Review by TOLI PAPADOPOULOS

A tale of domestic abuse, corruption and poverty, Miss Violence stars Eleni Roussinou as Eleni, an unemployed mother struggling to make ends meet. With their father out of the picture, Eleni’s four children are being partly raised and supported by Elenis’ parents (Themis Panou and Reni Pittaki).

In the opening scene, one of the children, Angeliki, is turning 11. In the midst of the celebration, she steps off a balcony and falls to a bloody death.

To ensure the family doesn't fall apart, Eleni’s father decides to take extreme measures. From reducing his grandkids' privacy to forcing them to physically punish one another for misbehaviour, Eleni’s father will stop at nothing in his quest for safety.

The story is part of what film critics are calling the “Greek Weird Wave” of cinema. Alongside films Dogtooth and Attenberg, Miss Violence characterises Greece’s economic turmoil and in some ways can be seen as an allegory for government corruption.

Throughout the film we see the daily struggles of the family and in particular the corrupt actions of Eleni’s father. He initially appears to be the voice of reason, but we eventually discover the father is the cause of many of the family’s problems.

Director Alexandros Avranas paints a disturbing picture that’s not for the faint-hearted. The opening scene is not sugar coated. Throughout the film the director doesn’t shy away from demonstrating domestic violence within the family, at times making viewers uncomfortable in the process. Scenes within the family home are initially depicted from a distance, only to have the camera close in, providing an intimate look into what is really going on in the household.

Overall, there’s a certain curiosity that accompanies the film’s dark storyline. It is difficult to look away, particularly during its final act. Black humour is used to illustrate how Eleni’s father perceives his behaviour to be normal.

It’s a heartbreaking tale of domestic violence that may disturb – but brings to light the tragedies that can happen in our own backyard.

Miss Violence is available on iTunes.

MIFF runs until the 17^th of August.