Shadow Dancer is James Marsh's first narrative piece and stars the excellent Clive Owen and Andrew Riseborough. There's a lot riding on this film, as it's yet to be seen whether director Marsh is able to work outside of his usual range (documentaries), like the extraordinary Man on Wire and Project Nim. Does he succeed?
Absolutely. Shadow Dancer is a subtle, meandering peek into UK espionage in the 1990s. Much like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Shadow Dancer is occasionally too subtle and quiet for its own good, sometimes featuring "blink and you'll miss it" twists and pivotal plot changes. However, both lead performances from Owen and Riseborough are excellent.
The film is about an IRA terrorist who is forced to collaborate with London's MI5 to take down a crucial part of the leadership after she botches a job in the Underground. Shadow Dancer is intense, thought-provoking and rewarding in ways that few films are. It was one of the highlights of my festival experience and is definitely worth checking out.
Shadow Dancer is playing in the non-competition Premiere category.
