Last Resort

Pawel Pawlikowski (2000)

United Kingdom

Tanya (Dina Korzun), a vulnerable and naive young Russian, arrives at Gatwick airport with her 10-year-old son Artiom (artiom Strelnikov) to meet her English fiance. But when he fails to show up, a distraught Tanya claims political asylum and finds herself virtually imprisoned in a nightmarish refugee holding centre in a lonely seaside resort. Desperate to escape, Tanya forges an unlikely alliance with amusement arcade manager Alfie (Paddy Considine), which soon develops into something more. But is he just another man who will let her down, or will Tanya and Artiom finally break free? Pawel Pawlikowski's critically acclaimed, award-winning film is an affecting and poetic love story, featuring hauntingly beautiful photography and sensitive naturalistic performances from an excellent cast. (synopsis from Artificial Eye DVD release)

Pawel Pawlikowski was awarded a BAFTA - Most promising newcomer 2000 and the Michael Powell Award at the Edinburgh Film Festival 2000 for this film. 

Posted by Daniela Berghahn on 19 Apr 2006 •

Next entry: Bullet Boy

Previous entry: Dirty Pretty Things