Tooth & Eye

INFORMATION 'Tooth & Eye' focuses on a working class mother and how her life disintegrates when her 8 year-old son is abducted and killed. Beyond pain and horror the film subverts thriller conventions and explores the gulf between reality and revenge fantasy. Influenced by the uncompromising work of Jacques Audiard, Andrea Arnold, Ken Loach, Cristian Mungio and Alan Clarke. 'Tooth & Eye' also reflects the contemporary socio-political landscape and deals with issues of individual responsibility and moral relativism. SYNOPSIS Sheila Cassidy is a single mother employed as a cleaner in a district hospital. A brash no-nonsense philistine, she takes life as it comes and adores her 8 year-old son Patrick. Tragedy strikes when Patrick is sexually assaulted and brutally murdered. Devastated by the loss, Sheila is overwhelmed by guilt and desperate for justice. Sheila's sister Teresa and catholic priest Father Carrick provide support, while Detective Inspector Emerson leads the police investigation. No progress is made and after Patrick's funeral Sheila receives an anonymous donation. Sheila rejects the blood money and connects the pay-off to wealthy property developer James Murdock. Inspector Emerson admits Murdock has been questioned, but there is no evidence linking the businessman to Patrick's murder. Estranged from her family, Sheila looks to the church and Carrick tells her to trust in God. Driven by revenge, she tracks Murdock down and ransacks his house. When Murdock returns home unexpectedly, Sheila batters his skull with a statue and watches him die from a heart attack. Murdock's Widow identifies Sheila and Emerson issues an arrest warrant. On the run, Sheila struggles to reconcile her faith, but believes her actions were justified. In confession she claims God guided her hand, but Carrick is horrified and refuses to grant absolution. Sheila remains unrepentant. Outside the church she spots Murdock's son Lawrence with a small boy. Sheila pursues them down the street, but Lawrence and the boy escape and the truth hits home; Sheila has made a terrible mistake, an innocent man has been killed, and she will have blood on her hands for the rest of her life.