There can be little doubt this is the nub of Laura’s unhappiness. Her preparation for Arturo’s final visit is a symbolic throwback to a time before this unspoken act; the virginal white dress and vaginal region returned to its pre-pubescent state with her Father’s razor being obvious signifiers. It’s perhaps gratifying then that the film settles for a less decisive form of release, namely the fortuitous visit from a heart broken younger brother, reminding Laura of her value as a human being. Convenient perhaps but the banality of it feels real enough, so to the reality that friends and family are often the source of personal salvation as well as the cause of one’s problems.

Rowe should be commended for compacting so much into such a minimalist setting. He’s succeeded in creating a drama in tune with realities that are never spoken about, lives seldom explored on film and often internally suppressed by those that live them. Seeing this reflection is therefore both difficult and comforting while absolutely necessary.