Possession   Starring: Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill Second Sight RRP: £19.99 2NDDVD3186 Certificate: 18 Available 25 October 2010

Anna and Mark's marriage is on the rocks - to say the least. It has degenerated into a chaotic ritual of shouting, physical and mental violence, and even self-abuse. Matters are further exacerbated when Anna starts to go missing on a frequent basis, and mark is left alone to care for her son. Mark soon discovers that Anna has a lover called Heinrich, whom he traces and confronts. The man is strange and sadistic, and thinks he has Anna under control. However, the two men soon learn they are both being duped for another mysterious lover. Becoming increasingly unhinged, Anna is compelled to regularly make love to a tentacled creature that must be protected at all cost...

This is a strange one. Polish director Andrzej Zulawski's projects have always caused controversy. He was practically prevented from making films in Poland during the days of Communism. He was persuaded to move to France, where he continued his trade.

Possession was written after the director's own marriage break-up due to a third party. The film was nominated for a BAFTA, but soon became a banned 'video nasty'. It can certainly be viewed at different levels, and will certainly mean something different to individual groups. On the surface it is a movie about the extremities of adultery. I saw it more as a descent into madness. Zulawski intended it as a political allegory. There are also somewhat stronger religious connotations inherent in the story. Most promoters saw it as a rather unsavoury horror.

Although Possession is thirty years old now, it's still shocking in places. The two lead performances are strong. Sam Neill's performance is edgy and totally convincing, and Isabelle Adjani's portrayal of Anna is... Well, it has to be seen to be believed. Simply breathtaking and deeply disturbing.

A quote from Mark Kermode on the publicity release will always be an eye-catcher, as he is easily the best film critic around (apart from me, of course!).

Love it or hate it, Possession simply can't be ignored. It deserves its place in film history, but will only appeal to collectors. It's evident that mainstream viewers are going to exclaim, "What the hell was all that about!?" and dismiss it out of turn.

7

Ty Power