Director / Benedict Andrews (NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE)
Stars/ Rooney Mara, Ben Mendelsohn, Riz Ahmed and Ruby Stokes

UNA is based on a play written in 2005 by Scottish playwright David Harrower, titled Blackbird. It won the Laurence Olivier Award in 2007 for Best New Play and is partly inspired by a real-life event from 2003.

A number of years ago, something happened to the 28 year-old Una (Rooney Mara – CAROL, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO) that has left her scarred and unable to move on with her life since. The only person that may be able to help her is Ray (Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn from ANIMAL KINGDOM and TV Series Bloodline), who is a warehouse manager that once knew Una. Their pasts collide with the present when Una surprises Ray at his workplace, confronting him with unanswered questions that have burdened her for long.

Having also written the film screenplay, David Harrower’s play seamlessly transitions from the stage to the screen in UNA, a tense drama featuring a strong performance from Rooney Mara. 

As it begins, the script only alludes to that past issue that is triggering the current actions of Una. It has no intention to keep this detail privy from viewers for very long at all though. Shortly after our lead characters conversation heats up, most of the existing questions that were asked are now answered. However, there are no intentions for UNA to depart from its setting any time soon. As it becomes evident that there is plenty of deep-digging emotional wreckage to unpack at Ray’s workplace, the focus swiftly shifts to the complex and sometimes puzzling objective being pursued by Una. As for Ray, it is in his best interests to keep this information in the past.

This is such a confidently and maturely written work that is always grounded and fairly-reasoned. That is no easy feat, for UNA is willingly exploring a theme that is sensitive in nature and also raises some highly debatable topics subject to controversy, without hesitancy. Even though specific details will understandably differ with varying perceptions and opinions, the open-minded and sensible approach that is adopted here invites thought from viewers and is worthy of respect. A final compliment goes to a handful of tense passages that ignite this drama, which ends on just that note courtesy of its thrilling conclusion.

3 ½ stars

Viewer Discretion/ M (mature themes, sex and coarse language)

Trailer / UNA

Moviedoc thanks Madman for the invite to the screening of this film..

Review by Moviedoc / “LIKE” on Facebook – Moviedoc

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