Tim Roth as director delivers a drama with the kind of gut-wrenching family story that happens only so often in the movies; not even Todd Field's films, however excellent, come close to The War Zone as being truly insightful into a specific dark corridor of a family slowly ripping itself apart. Part of it is the exceptional naturalistic acting, wherein actors I've never seen before like Lara Belmont and Freddie Cunliffe are subtle in just glances and stares to one another, and when they dig deep into the tragic parts of the story they're revelatory, maybe even more so than Ray Winstone and Tilda Swinton. You can't take your eyes off of Cunliffe.

In the War Zone the family is a father, mother, son and daughter, with the mother giving birth to a newborn daughter at the opening of the film. The story, however rightfully thin, concerns the secret that Jessie and Tom holding fragility when Tom sees Jessie and their father in an incestuous act. There's denial, fighting, lots of scorn that grows between the two, while the rift between the son and the family becomes so thick that it could explode at any moment. But what's brilliant about the story, as well as rightfully heartbreaking, is how logically the tragedy unfolds, how the secret soon comes apart and leads into some unexpected scenes (one of which involving self-abuse, the other towards the end, a more conventional but still shocking act of violence).

Roth could be considered purely an actor's director, and he is one first and foremost. But he also is able to convey a profound sense of agony if only with the choice of scenery, of this quiet and dark seaside area and the bunker by the house where the incest takes place (apparently the R-rated version omits some explicit bits, but it doesn't feel compromised and actually helps by showing little),and the shots he films linger as much on the characters as in the viewer's mind. This isn't merely some pretentious decision but a deliberate choice that, somewhat akin to a Bergman picture, emphasizes those crushing beats that are much truer than something more stylish.

With the "unflinching eye", as some other critics have noted, Roth shows us things that make us uncomfortable, but because of this it doesn't lie and that's a great service through art for those who have been afflicted with abuse in families. At the least, it isn't a schlock-TV movie. A+

Tom (Freddie Cunliffe) is bitter at the family being moved from London to rural Devon. His dad (Ray Winstone) crashes the car taking his pregnant mum (Tilda Swinton) to the hospital. She has a baby girl. Tom accuses his older sister Jessie (Lara Belmont) of having sex with their father which she denies. Colin Farrell plays local boy Nick who takes a fancy to Jessie.

This is a dark disturbing story of incest and the conflicting blame that occurs. It's Tim Roth's directorial debut. He tries to make this a quiet moody film. The extended desolate landscape scenes are fine but I don't like quietly waiting for the actors to speak. I also don't like the Tom character although I grow to accept him. I'm not impressed with Cunliffe's performance but it could very well be his character. On the other hand, Lara Belmont is compelling. The final act is terrific with Ray Winstone acting up a storm. On a side note, Farrell's role is rather small. This is a disturbing compelling movie despite a slow start.

In Devon, the fifteen years old teenager Tom (Freddie Cunliffe) is very upset for leaving his friends in London. His middle-class family, composed by his mother (Tilda Swinton),his father (Ray Winston) and his eighteen years old sister Jessie (Lara Belmont) has just moved from London to an isolated house nearby the coast. After the delivery of his newborn sister Alice, Tom realizes that his father is sexually abusing of his sister through anal intercourse. Tom becomes emotionally disturbed with the situation, hating his father, being in conflict with his sister and wishing to tell the truth to his mother, who believes that Tom is only missing London for such a weird behavior at home. This sad, depressive and powerful drama about incest and destruction of a family is a magnificent debut of Tim Roth as director. The story is slowly constructed and the situation is disclosed to the viewer in right doses, without being aggressive. Although being an excellent movie, I would not dare to recommend it to very sensitive persons, who may be disturbed with the theme and with the violent scene of the sexual molestation of Dad in the shelter. The gray and rainy weather of Devon fits very well with such dark story. Just as a curiosity, the now famous Colin Farrell has a minor and short participation in the film, performing the role of Nick. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): `Zona de Conflito' (`Conflict Zone')