Proxy, a smart and suspenseful American independent film directed by Zack Parker (Scalene), opens with a scene of bracing violence which at first repulses and stuns very directly, but later demands closer reassessment. Central character Esther (Alexia Rasmussen), pregnant and nearing her due date, is on the way from her doctor to the bus stop when she is assaulted. She survives what we presume is a random act of violence, but loses her baby, prompting her to join a group for grieving mothers. In group, she meets Melanie (Alexa Havins), a warmhearted suburban housewife who lost her son. They become unexpected friends, a bond complicated by the fact both women are guarding dangerous and disturbing secrets. Over two hours, Proxy twists and turns in various directions, inspiring genuine surprise and tension as it examines the way the cultural image of motherhood, as well as its day-to-day responsibilities, blends with the characters' psychological disorders. It is a delight to see a film able to upend expectations at almost every turn while always complementing the intricate and theatrical structure of its storyline with ample character development and formal elegance. It is a rather hard film to critique without spoiling its host of macabre bombshells and jolts, but know the investment of both time and attention is definitely rewarded.

A-