Written and directed by Michael Winterbottom, co-written by Laurence Coriat and Paul Viragh, two Brit police officers Thomas Wilkin and Geoffrey Morton hunt for charismatic poet and Zionist freedom fighter Avraham Stern, who was plotting to evict British authorities. Starring: Douglas Booth, Irina Starshenbaum, Harry Melling, Aury Alby, Ofer Seker, Doron Kochavi and Shiri Binder.
Putting aside the timing and larger political discussion to be had, partly because the film doesn’t have a lot to offer in that sense, and because it’s a separate conversation to its quality overall. A big part of why Shoshana struggles, is clear from its initial impression, it overly leans into a stereotypical romance aesthetic. The same can be said of its atmosphere, the combination of which creates a feel of insincerity and a lack of depth. Sadly, it’s something that continues until the very end, a blandness, despite its attempts to bring in violence.
That lack of grit or weight prevents this story from ever gaining momentum, there’s no rise and fall to its tension and no firm grasp on the danger and consequences of its story. There’s a lot to it which feels like a forgone conclusion, leaving it little room for surprise. As well as that Shoshana (Irina Starshenbaum) never feels like the lead character, she plays second fiddle to the officers and freedom fighters. It’s a real shame as she feels like the character who had the most to offer, but she’s used more in an intermediary or even a narrator capacity.
Arguably, the performances have more energy and personality than the rest of the film, particularly Harry Melling. He already has a face perfect for period pieces then to add in a contemptable, prejudiced and harsh personality, he was a great fit for the role. Starshenbaum is enthralling, doing the best job of capturing a balance of assuredness and internal conflict. Douglas Booth is solid as Thomas but his character certainly fits more in the romantic side of things than the political.
Shoshana had the potential for a politically charged story filled with tension but falls short. It spends far too much of its time focused on romance to lend any gravitas to its conflict. The performances are well done but the rest of the film is a let-down. The visual and overall tone are flat, the whole experience feels very one-noted and there’s not a lot to gain, before you even delve into how it adds so little to such a vital, relevant conversation.
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