The Midnight Swim (DVD)

After Dr Amelia Brooks is believed to have drowned during a deep-water dive at Spirit Lake her three daughters return to the Iowa lakeside home to settle up affairs. Somewhat estranged the young women-convene to discuss plans for the property and are afforded some valuable time to reconnect with each other. The more introverted June often turns to a video camera to diarise her feelings and from these intimate testimonials a damaged portrait of loneliness emerges. The intimate bonds of sisterhood also-weigh heavy with the past. The memories are hard to let go. So too is the lake which has a bewitching influence over the atmosphere and seems to be having a particularly haunting effect on June. Sarah Adina Smith's vivid debut is a confident and nuanced vision of the environments and people who shape our identities and the uncanny dominion we might-command in return.