Snap (2010)

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  (23 ratings)

Acclaimed Irish playwright Carmel Winters marks her feature debut with SNAP, a taut, suspense-filled psychological drama about three generations of a family poised to repeat the mistakes of the past. In this kinetic and arresting tale, different cameras tell divergent and seemingly contradictory… More Acclaimed Irish playwright Carmel Winters marks her feature debut with SNAP, a taut, suspense-filled psychological drama about three generations of a family poised to repeat the mistakes of the past. In this kinetic and arresting tale, different cameras tell divergent and seemingly contradictory stories as they are presented to us in intriguing fragments of memory, recall and re-enactment. The narrative unfolds in three interwoven strands, beginning with a scorching interview with a mother, Sandra (Aisling O'Sullivan, THE BUTCHER BOY), as she describes her involvement in an unthinkable yet mysterious crime to an intrusive documentary camera crew. At the same time, what at first appears to be an afternoon of lighthearted play for a toddler (Adam Duggan) in the solicitous care of an adolescent (Stephen Moran) soon sours, as we realize that he has abducted the child and is holding him captive in his grandfather's home. Finally, haunting scenes from a family film archive hint at deeper underlying secrets, as both the audience and the characters themselves are compelled to piece together what happened -- and why. Lead actress Aisling O'Sullivan delivers a searing performance as a mother forced to confront a past she has long denied. She is supported by astonishing performances from teenage newcomer Stephen Moran, celebrated Irish actress Eileen Walsh (EDEN, Winner: Best Actress, Tribeca Film Festival 2008), and the irresistible Adam Duggan as the toddler. Masterfully blending narrative innovation with a stark realism that is devoid of sentimentality or cliché, Ms. Winters creates a labyrinthine story that is visceral, enigmatic, and uncompromisingly powerful. --© Samson Films