The War Zone (DVD, 2000, P&S)

Tim Roth's directorial debut, based on the novel by Alexander Stuart (who adapted the screenplay), is not for the faint of heart. When a seemingly normal family moves from London to rural Devon, 15-year-old Tom (Freddie Cunliffe) stumbles into a shocking secret concerning his father (Ray Winstone) and 17-year-old sister, Jessie (Lara Belmont). Afraid of breaking up the family and upsetting his mother (Tilda Swinton), who has just given birth to a baby girl, he crawls into a shell and remains there, confused and alienated. Eventually, the situation boils over and the truth is exposed. Roth shows that he has the ability to draw extremely emotional performances from professional actors Winstone and real-life partner Swinton, as well as from newcomers Belmont and Cunliffe, who provide the film with its true heart. A brilliantly harsh and tragic family drama.