#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

#FIRSTLOOK: EE BAFTA AWARD-NOMINATED “LIMBO” GETS NORTH AMERICAN RELEASE

As you might recall, the EE BAFTA Awards nominees were announced earlier this week and nominated twice was refugee Drama, LIMBO. The Film now will be making its way to North America next month.

Synopsis:

LIMBO is a wry and poignant observation of the refugee experience, set on a fictional remote Scottish island where a group of new arrivals await the results of their asylum claims. It centres on Omar, a young Syrian musician who is burdened by his grandfather’s oud, which he has carried all the way from his homeland. 

Reflecting the complexity of the movement of people across borders has been a long-held passion for director and writer Ben Sharrock, who spent time working for an NGO in refugee camps in southern Algeria and living in Damascus in 2009 shortly before the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. There, he formed a network of friends whose personal stories inspired the film. 

Written and directed by Sharrock, LIMBO stars Amir El Masry (The Night Manager), along with Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi, Kwabena Ansah, Sidse Babett Knudsen and Kais Nashif (Tel Aviv on Fire). Producers are Irune Gurtubai and Angus Lamont.

Focus Features release LIMBO in select theatres Friday, April 30, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Focus Features)