Queen At Sea

Amanda is exasperated when she finds her mother and stepfather engaged in a sexual act. Leslie is living with advanced dementia and Amanda can’t be certain that Martin’s actions are what her mother wants. Has Amanda’s mother lost the ability to make critical decisions in her own best interests? And, if so, who is responsible – a spouse, a child, an institution – for making such a determination? As Amanda and Martin are forced to make increasingly difficult choices, the repercussions spiral out of their control.

This fascinating and human drama had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize and the Award for Best Supporting Performance (shared by Anna Calder-Marshall and Tom Courtenay). Director Lance Hammer asymmetrically frames his characters, exploring distance and powerlessness alongside the love and intimacy that exists between them.