Princess

The 2014 Israeli drama film, Princess, is directed by Tali Shalom-Ezer and features a stellar cast, including Shira Haas, Keren Mor, and Ori Pfeffer. Taking center stage in the narrative is the gripping tale of a girl in her adolescence standing on the precipice of a grim adult world that threatens to steal her innocence.

Eleven-year-old Adar, played by the phenomenal Shira Haas, exists in a cocoon of perverse domesticity. Her enormously ambiguous world consists of her workaholic mother Alma, interpreted by Keren Mor, and stepfather Michael, portrayed by Ori Pfeffer. Michael, an out-of-work artist, indulges Adar in uncanny and increasingly sinister games of pretend, playing on the fringes of propriety. The confines of the story take place largely in their austere, minimalistic apartment, putting a metaphorical cover on unspoken secrets and unspeakable acts. Viewed through Adar's perspective, her home is a maze of tension, discomfort, and unnerving ambiguity.

Due to her mother's demanding professional commitments, Adar is predominantly entrusted into Michael's care, which sets off the outrageously intolerable undertones of their relationship. Struggling to voice her fears and articulate her realities, Adar finds solace in a street boy named Alan, played by Adar Zohar Hanetz. Alan becomes a reflection of Adar, mimicking her gestures and showing her that she's not quite alone in her complicated and disturbing daily life. It's through this relationship that she finds strength and determination.

Shira Haas delivers a railway-tank performance, manifesting the dichotomy of Adar's world. Simultaneously childlike and mature, her ability to convey the disorientating and disturbing reality of her character is awe-inspiring. It’s Haas's screen presence that adds credibility to the complexity of child and adolescent psychology depicted in the film.

Keren Mor, as the oblivious and self-absorbed mother, wrestles with her duality as a caring mother and a selfish individual trapped in denial. Likewise, Ori Pfeffer chills the screen with his portrayal of the ominous Michael, his chilling performance jolting you out of complacency and cozy drama expectations. His unhinged charm alongside his concealed menace, does absolute justice to his character's inherently contradictory nature.

The ambiance of the movie is permeably claustrophobic, enhancing the theme of the lurking danger within the household. The cinematography and sound design play a significant part, creating a stark contrast between the dream-like and the eerie. Director Tali Shalom-Ezer's striking visuals remain stamped on your memory long after the movie's runtime.

Tali Shalom-Ezer's interpretation of Princess is a masterpiece not just visually but also in the meticulous development of the narrative. The unsettling and suspenseful buildup of the plot keeps you hanging on the edge, while provocatively questioning the orthodoxies of family, making space for the uncomfortable and proving that truth can often be stranger than fiction.

Princess is a paradox of a fairy-tale and a nightmare, interwoven into an unflinching portrayal of a young girl’s battle with sexual harassment. It skillfully navigates the psychologically tumultuous journey, straddling the line between innocence and the stark realities that shadow it. With an uncommonly rich cast and crew, the film serves as an eye-opener to the urgency and importance of child safety in a world that often chooses to remain ignorant about it.

Princess isn’t a comfortable watch, but it’s an important one. Through its harsh yet engine-like focus on its young protagonist and her troubled world, the movie encourages viewers to confront the uncomfortable realities that many children experience. It is a magnifying glass over a societal issue that isn't talked about enough, enabling the discourse around the often-taboo topics of child abuse and the erosion of innocence.

In conclusion, the 2014 drama film Princess takes you on an emotionally tense journey, portraying the darker side of domesticity. With a haunting narrative unveiled in a captivatingly visual style, it becomes an eerie exploration of maturation, identity, and survival. The film's masterful storytelling and commendable performances make it a must-watch for serious cinema enthusiasts. Those seeking a hard-hitting drama that challenges their perception will find this film more than satisfying.