Sacha Polak’s captivating and intimately crafted drama, Silver Haze, delivers a powerful and emotionally charged depiction of working-class life in Britain, featuring Vicky Knight in an award-winning performance that is both revelatory and magnetic. The compelling and intimate film had its world premiere at the 2023 Berlin Film Festival.
The story centres around 23-year-old Franky (Vicky Knight, Dirty God) who leads a life dedicated to caregiving, juggling her duties as a nurse while being the backbone of her tumultuous family in east London. Internally, Franky harbours deep-seated anger stemming from a traumatic childhood fire that left her scarred. However, her life takes a transformative turn when she embarks on a relationship with one of her patients, Florence (Esmé Creed-Miles, Hanna). The two embark on a journey to Florence’s coastal hometown, where an open-minded and supportive patchwork family welcomes them. In this new environment, Franky finds the emotional sanctuary she desperately needs to confront the demons of her past.
Silver Haze reunites Sacha Polak and Vicky Knight, known for her exceptional portrayal in Dirty God, and acknowledged with nominations for both a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit and a British Independent Film Award (BIFA) in the Best Actress category. Silver Haze draws its inspiration from Vicky Knight’s own childhood experiences, where she survived an arson attack. Her remarkable performance in the film earned her the prestigious Teddy Jury Award at the Berlin Film Festival.
Credits
UK, The Netherlands 2023
102min
Dir Sacha Polak
With Vicky Knight, Esmé Creed-Miles, Charlotte Knight, Archie Brigden, TerriAnn Cousins and Angela Bruce