Break My Fall

Directed by Kanchi Wichmann

If music be the food of love, then the downbeat, indie-punk soundtrack populated by new British bands that underscores this slick debut by director Kanchi Wichmann waves a burning red flag from the outset. Coming across as an Anglo-interpretation of Gregg Araki’s nihilistic teen nightmares (part Skins, part Grange Hill), Lesbian couple Liza and Sally drift from bed to band practice, barely managing to scrape a living, dining at greasy spoons and puking into piled-high kitchen sinks as their hedonism spirals out of control. Flashes of violence, a lack of purpose and psychological self-harm point toward a dim resolution, but Wichmann’s adept delivery and lo-fi style ensures that it never quite degenerates into senseless whinging. Kat Redstone as Liza is particularly impressive as the androgynous cornerstone to this upstart ensemble piece.

Duration:
106 minutes

Languages:
English

Country of origin:
Great Britain

Year of production:
2011