September Says – Film Review
by Brian Merriman

Written and directed by Ariane Labed
Based on the novel Sisters by Daisy Johnson
Starring Mia Tharia  as July,  Rakhee Thakrar  as Sheela, and introduces Pascale Kann as September.

Think of the childhood game ‘Simon Says’ and you get a handle on this more macabre tale of sibling control and rebellion. We meet Sheila (Rakhee Thakar) a widowed mother, struggling to connect with her two school-going daughters September (an impressive debut by Pascale Kann) and her younger sister July (an intense Mia Tharia). This well played trio dominate the screenplay based on the successful novel by Daisy Johnson.

It is a sinister plot, which dips into secret sibling codes – mainly the use of animal sounds, school bullying and the dominance and control of the younger sister by her older heroic role model. September has an edge, she doesn’t stand for any nonsense, jumps to physically defend her younger sister, but equally moves more and more into her head by exhorting promises of future action if the sisters come under threat.

July is compliant, devoted and shy. Yet we meet her as her sexuality is emerging while her growing personal independence flashes through as she matures. School is not kind to either girl (both actors seem just a little too mature for the playing age of the sisters)  and July is catfished when she falls for her class heartthrob. She is exposed online for sending intimate pictures and September rushes to her defence.

The family heads to their Grandmother’s home in a wintry seaside town to deal with the fallout of the scandal. There is, as expected some blood, food porn, insects and suspense. Rising Irish star Cal O’Driscoll stars as the local boy who loses his virginity, in yet another role as the shy adolescent. He is in danger of almost stereotyping and badly needs a chance to shine in another young person’s genre, which I am sure he would handle equally well.

Debutante director (and writer) Labed successfully uses imagery to build that sense of unreality that resonates throughout the film. The exposition of the controlling relationship between the siblings signals early that we are careering towards some inevitable drama at the end. It doesn’t avoid that predictable climax, though there is an unexpected strong twist towards the end. Labed makes a creditable debut. It is refreshing to see three female leads drive this movie, well-acted and well-written. So what does September say? You’ll have to go see it to find out.