SYNOPSIS
Shell. A 17-year-old woman living and working at a remote petrol station in the Scottish Highlands. Apart from the infrequent passing trade and a few regulars to acknowledge and catch up with, her only companion is her father Pete, an introverted man to whom she is devoted. Shell’s mother deserted them years before, leaving Pete to bring up the girl on his own. Shell’s affection for her dad and the lonely environs inspire confused emotions that both have difficulty confronting. Shell marks the arrival of Scott Graham as a distinctive new voice in British cinema, a powerful debut feature that is an engrossing study of physical and emotional isolation which manages to be both artful and truthful, a rare film that pulls off a deft combination in being both subtly poignant and emotively devastating. Chloe Pirrie puts in a terrific performance as the titular lead character, providing the film with its beating heart.
Premiered at the BFI London Film Festival on October 17 2012.