Selling Isobel

I was a little reluctant to watch this film. From the premise, it seemed I might be subjected to a dispiriting and overly grim tale. It is a tough view, but I was very glad I saw it. The story, based on true events, of a young woman who is kidnapped and forced to be a sex slave is beautifully told, impressively performed and totally engrossing. Now get this: Isobel, played by actor Frida Farrell was the actual real-life victim of the events this film is based on. And she is sensationally good. There's also a terrific performance from Gabriel Olds – this is virtually a two-hander. It reminded me of the film Room which has a similar theme, but I found this to be better and more involving in that I got completely lost in it in that rare way that makes for a special viewing experience. (The person sitting next to me in the cinema had a beer. It wasn't until the end of the film that he realised he hadn't taken even a sip!) The film is low budget and made in a very short time. Don't worry about that – this is high octane, pure cinema. I loved it.