The Escape (2018)

For me to sum up The Escape is probably doing the film a disservice, so bear that in mind when I tell you that it's the story of Tara (played by Gemma Arterton) feeling trapped in a marriage to Mark (Dominic Cooper), who is a prime example of toxic masculinity in a nice suit, driving a nice car, living in a nice house in a nice neighbourhood.

The first part of the film is the examination of this marriage. It's a deeply sad portrayal by Arterton as the women who is yearning for more from a life that is solely defined by being wife (read: cleaner, cook, masturbatory aid, babysitter) and mother.

Cooper's role is well-drawn too. He's subtly abusive rather than being physically violent - any violence is expressed against inanimate objects rather than hitting Tara - but there's a constant threat, particularly when he manhandles her - and his sexual interactions with her are barely consensual, hanging on the line that would lead to Internet arguments about whether they constitute rape.

None of his behaviour seems particularly malicious, but rather the environment in which he has been brought up. He cannot understand why his wife is sad, he wants to fix her, but his actions are tainted by an inability to think beyond himself and his tainted understanding of the world.

By the time the titular escape finally occurs, it's a welcome relief, brilliantly handled by the filmmakers. Sound design, music and cinematography all play as important a part as the superb job done by the actors.

There's more beyond that as the film doesn't avoid the subsequent consequences and the reality of Tara's situation. The film's ending is not a resolution as such, but it is a step towards one. It's appropriate, thoughtful, and necessarily leaves a dozen questions hanging around afterwards.