This feminist thriller, only the second narrative feature from Mady Saks, is an engrossing account of how a 30 year old woman who, having turned her back on city life, tries to live an independent existence as a veterinarian in a backward country village. Here she instantly becomes a victim of narrow-minded prejudice and meets with open disapproval from the locals, men and women alike. Cool comfort is given by her boyfriend, a city architect who cracks jokes and would really rather see her fail in her career, making her more dependent on him.

The nature of the encircling oppression gradually turns from nasty, idle gossip and petty baiting to actual horrific violence, climaxing in an effective 'shock' ending

As much as the film's adroit handling of its Straw Dogs-like suspense dynamics, what makes it so memorable {and so moving) is the outstanding lead performance by Monique van de Ven who brings remarkable conviction and composure to the eponymous role of Iris. Saks' stylistic and ideological focus has been compared by overseas critics to Marleen Gorris (A Question of Silence, Broken Mirrors) but is less hardcore extreme and more targeted towards popular appeal, which, probably enhances, rather than diminishes the film's impact and polemical force - P K

We arc happy to welcome director Mady Saks to the festival to introduce her film