Film Review: Una

This minimalist, Surrey-shot piece has moments where you can sense how it might have looked and felt in the theatre – but it never feels stagey or talky. That’s entirely to do with the performances by Rooney Mara and Ben Mendelsohn, both of whom are typically unafraid to take on difficult, even disturbing material, and definitely do so here.

After a brief and uncomfortable opening sequence that subtly implies what life is like for the almost-30 Una (Mara), we then watch as she journeys to a warehouse in search of Ray – or, as he’s now known, Pete (Mendelsohn). Much has already been made about what has previously gone on between Una and Ray/Pete (and Mendelsohn rather gave it all away during a recent 7.30 interview), and it’s not clear if she wants answers, closure or revenge.

Very carefully-staged flashbacks begin to intrude, depicting Ray and his increasing closeness to the barely-teen Una 15 years beforehand, and here she’s impressively played by Ruby Stokes. The older Una’s presence at Pete’s workplace (a shipping firm) makes those around him uneasy, and her presence coincides with other major events, but Pete finds himself almost unable to deal with anything else but her, and his conflicted feelings of guilt, shame and fear. And more.

Another movie which proves hard to discuss without misrepresenting it, this could potentially offend or upset some audiences, as it raises, and doesn’t necessarily answer, many big, thorny questions. How could Pete have allowed himself to do what he did? Can Una ever find any real resolution? Doesn’t Ray, sorry, Pete still love her? And can he ever (ever) be truly forgiven, not just by her but by himself?

Rated MA. Una is in cinemas now