EIFF: Greyhawk, Review

‘Greyhawk’ (set in a fictional London estate with the same name) stars Alec Newman as Mal. When you are first introduced to him he is an unlikeable, blind, Afghan veteran, wallowing in self pity. His only friend is his guide dog Quince. When he goes missing Mal is forced to ask for help from the very people he actively avoids and is running away from.

Mal having to go door to door in the estate to find Quince introduces you to a odd ball bunch of local residents, my favourite of which being a Sikh Arthur Conan Doyle fan who helps Mal using his ‘powers of deduction’

The resident who changes Mal the most and who finally opens him up and gets him to spill his story is struggling single mum Paula trying to raise her 14 year old son in a climate of gang culture and bad influences without a father figure around.

One thing to point out about this film is the great use of the soundscape, with usual background noise amplified it gives you a sense of what Mal is listening for when moving around.

‘Greyhawk’ is showing as part of the New Perspectives strand at the 2014 Edinburgh International Film Festival on the 19th and 21st of June. To find out more and book tickets visit www.edfilmfest.org.uk