There’s a lot about Stephanie Daley that’s uncomfortable – the subject matter (teen pregnancy), the cinematography (a prevalence of close-up, hand-held shots that force the viewer into the characters’ proximity), and the fact that one must subject oneself to a cinema full of overly sympathetic, middle-aged women in order to watch it. But that is perhaps what makes this film so effective. It’s a tense drama that doesn’t try to shield the audience from its characters’ experiences just for the sake of making it more digestible. Stephanie (Amber Tamblyn) is a sheltered Christian teenager who is accused of killing her baby after giving birth to it, and then burying it, while on a school ski trip. However, she insists she had no idea she was pregnant, and it falls to psychologist Lydie (Tilda Swinton) to determine whether or not she’s telling the truth. The interview sessions cause both women to confront their own fears and denials in a story that explores female strength and vulnerability but doesn’t weaken or victimise the characters. The bulk of Stephanie’s story is told through a series of flashbacks, which draw unexpected parallels to Lydie’s current experiences. Swinton and Tamblyn deliver muted but extremely effective performances that carry the film without needing much assistance. Tamblyn’s portrayal of an innocent young girl giving birth in a public toilet makes for particularly harrowing cinema. It’s not an easy film to watch, but writer/director Hilary Brougher has crafted such a compelling story that it’s impossible not to let yourself be drawn into this darker side of suburban America.—Kim Choe