I must admit, when I first saw a still of A Change in the Weather I was a little freaked out. Is that a mannequin, is it a horror, what's going on!? But weirdly enough when it came to that particular scene, it was oddly mesmerising so fear not; it's a delicate drama about going through the seasons of life..and a change in the weather along the way. But then they start dancing with the creepy mannequin for minutes so yeah it is kinda creepy.


Let's start from the beginning. The film begins with Lydia (Anna Mottram) being interviewed candidly about her husband in a weird set up, enough to make you sit up and go, "ok...". Unfortunately, you don't really get any answers, or even that much to question for that matter. We go through life finding out more and more (if you can call it 'more') in a clever but patient set up. Be prepared to wait for the pay-off and then *no spoilers* you can decide if it paid off.

A Change in the Weather is the story of theatre director Dan (Bob Goody) who is writing a play that kinda mirrors his own life and marriage. In the process he has hired two female performers to play the stage version of Lydia in various stages of life: Elsa. It's conveniently set in gorgeous Southern France with a rustic feel throughout and some lovely landscape views and eerie piano score. There's a lot of slightly awkward dancing, pensive stares and authentic dialogue. However, obviously, nothing is as it seems. History and revelations...if you're patient. The blurred lines between art and reality can mess with your head if you let yourself become emotionally attached to the characters. Character development is a sly, cryptic one but much of the emphasis lies on change. By the end of the film, you'll have stuff to mull over and for cinema, that's a good thing. Its strengths lie in being quite real and down to earth when it comes to it.

This may be a film of low budget but a lot of thought has evidently gone into it. Birdman, it may be not, but it could almost be made for theatre (a play within a play?). It's unsurprising that many of the great actors have an extensive background in theatre; apparently a lot of the script was improvised too which is pretty impressive. Watch it for an artistic, thoughtful albeit confusing film (though it deliberately feels more like an intrusion of private life than a film) and creative experience. If you have the patience.

A Change in the Weather is in UK cinemas on 7th July.