Portraits of Dangerous Women

Writer: Pascal Bergamin and Stephan Teuwissen

Director: Pascal Bergamin

Portraits of Dangerous Women (written by Pascal Bergamin and Stephan Teuwissen and directed by the former) mentions the concept of ‘vernacular photography’ – photographs by amateurs using everyday life and common things as subjects. This may be the approach which Bergamin is aspiring towards with the film, drawing drama and humour from the understated lives of apparently unexceptional people who have nothing in common but somehow work together to achieve slight but significant change.

Nearing age 40 schoolteacher Steph (Jeany Spark) may be having a mid-life crisis, experiencing career doldrums and financial worries. Disgraced accountant Tina (Tara Fitzgerald) is reduced to working as a caretaker in the same school, a role she fulfils with focussed determination. Ashley (Yasmin Monet Prince), the youngest of the trio, is unconsciously searching for a purpose in life and willing to cause mischief along the way. A road accident acts as a catalyst for the three women, along with Steph’s father Jon (Mark Lewis Jones) an art gallery owner with an awareness of the limits of his expertise, becoming acquaintances and nudging each other towards change.

Despite the title, danger is notably absent from the film. It is set in an English village that might be taken from a Richard Osman novel- the sun is always shining and the biggest problem facing the police is their computers are outdated models. But then, as is remarked, it is difficult to identify dangerous women from external appearances so perhaps director Bergamin is trying to deter viewers from rushing to judgement and encouraging them to look under the surface.

On first appearance Ashley is something of a troublemaker who does not hesitate to fib if it suits her purpose, but Yasmin Monet Prince sets a melancholic tone to explain her behaviour. Mark Lewis Jones charmingly bumbles in the background to the lives of the other characters willing to accept change is in the air but still capable of offering his experience, and cooking skills.

The tone of the film is mature and rueful. Tara Fitzgerald is aware Tina has fallen from grace but misses companionship more than her former financial status. As a marriage ends and a couple pack up possessions, they avoid bitterness and end up sharing opinions on favourite books. Annette Badland has a small role but delivers a key speech on the need to build up happy memories to sustain us in darker times.

Much of the eccentric understated humour comes from Jeany Spark’s accident-prone Steph whose efforts to go undercover in a pet shop and investigate how one might dispose of a dead animal result in her unwillingly adopting a cat.

Portraits of Dangerous Women is a quirky gem which certainly raises the spirits of the audience.

Portraits of Dangerous Women will be in UK Cinemas from 4th October.