Gary Owen’s Iphigenia In Splott took the Welsh and London theatre world by storm in the wake of Brexit. Urgent and passionate, this one-woman play starred Sophie Melville as Effi, a young woman struggling to deal with the harsh realities of a life encompassed by poverty and a lack of opportunity, from a world that seemed indifferent to her plight.
With Effi O Blaenau, this harrowing monologue has now been expanded superbly by Gary Owen to the big screen. The setting has been transposed to the bleak beauty of Blaenau Ffestiniog, Effi’s plight given a remote grandeur and in Leisa Gwenllian, she is brought to life fearlessly in a raw gutsy performance that will be star-making.
Gwenllian’s Effi is initially hard to like: a heavy-drinking fountain of rudeness, hurling abuse at her nan (an excellent Carys Gwillym). She struggles by with friend Leanne (Nel Rhys Lewis) and on/off friend with benefits Kev (a poignant, funny Owen Alun). Effi lives for nights out, and on one such excursion miles away from her hometown she has a fling with ex-soldier Lee (Tom Rhys Harries). Effi thinks he could the one, but there’s more to Lee’s life than he lets on.
A gruelling chain of events follows, anchored by Gwenllian’s committed performance, a propulsive script and Marc Evans’ tight direction. It has a social realist conscience like a Ken Loach film, delivering harrowing material urgently – an ambulance trip in a snowstorm heartbreakingly tense. The performances are uniformly excellent, from Leah Gaffey’s overstretched nurse to Mared Llywellyn’s neighbour with kids, with Gwenllian managing to keep Effi believably human amidst the adversity she encounters.
In the wake of continuing austerity, COVID and a world where the have-nots are ignored, this urgent film feels like a howl at injustice everywhere. Essential Welsh filmmaking, full of purpose and passion.
Dir: Marc Evans (15, 90 mins)
In cinemas from Fri 19 June
words KEIRON SELF
