After the Fire

Directed by Mehdi Fikri, After the Fire follows Camélia Jordana’s Malika as she attempts to seek justice for her brother after he dies under suspicious circumstances while in police custody. It’s compelling subject matter that’s employed to deliberate yet mostly engrossing effect by Fikri, as the filmmaker delivers an increasingly engaging drama that benefits from its gritty sensibilities and Jordana’s magnetic turn as the fiery central character – with the better-than-expected atmosphere undoubtedly heightened by a midsection rife with memorable sequences and digressions (eg Malika successfully sneaks into and eventually disrupts a police press conferance). And while the narrative’s procedural-like bent does result in a small handful of excessively dry stretches, After the Fire, which also boasts several unexpectedly (and impressively) powerful interludes (eg we finally hear audio of Malika’s brother’s encounter with the cops), builds towards a seriously stirring climax that cements its place as a first-class debut from a promising new filmmaker – with the movie’s undercurrent of social commentary, ultimately, packing more of a punch than one might’ve initially anticipated.

*** out of ****