#TIFF23: “LIMBO” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

Australian auteur Ivan Sen delivers a slow-burning Crime Drama that plays as a commentary on the justice system.

Detective Travis Hurley (Simon Baker) arrives in the Southern Australian mining town of Limbo to investigate the 20-year-old cold case of Charlotte, a local Indigenous girl. Travis has a hunch that the killer may still live locally.

Charlotte’s murder was met with apathy by the investigating officers and the non-Indigenous townsfolk at the time…and still 20 years later. The girl’s siblings Emma (Natasha Wanganeen) and Charlie (Rob Collins) have lost hope in justice. So when Travis arrives and claims he’s there to help find the killer, they both doubt he’ll solve the case. Especially since there’s little evidence and there appears to be little — if any — community support.

Limbo is beautifully-shot with black-and-white Cinematography and works as an important critique of the failures of colonial law enforcement and judicial systems in serving Indigenous peoples. Baker turns in a strong performance as the drug-addicted detective determined to close the case. Although, the Film does lag at times.

Limbo screens at TIFF ’23:

Tuesday, September 12 at 5:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Wednesday, September 13 at 3:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto