Film No. 49 (2016) Indignation August 8.

Film No. 49 (2016) August 8th.  6.30 PM LUNA Paradiso, Northbridge.

"I want to hear all about your mother and your father the butcher and what it's like to work in a butcher's shop and what the girls are like in New York". (Olivia (Sarah Gadon) gushes with questions for Marcus (Logan Lerman) on their first date).

A Phillip Roth novel has never appeared to me as being an easy narrative to translate to the screen. Considering the pedigree of first time director James Schamus and his screen writing background with Ang Lee one needn't have worried. Indignation is a gem of a film. Anyone who loves film with simple but rich images, clever writing and an honest to the core premise shouldn't miss Indignation.

Marcus Messner (Logan Lerman) is a thoughtful, intelligent young man who is destined for a profession, perhaps a career in law, due to his propensity for study and his insightful conversation. When Marcus leaves his closed world as an only child to his homemaker mother Esther (Linda Emond) and kosher butcher father Max (Danny Burstein) there are bound to be coming of age pains. Especially when smart young man Marcus is inclined to become quite indignant about much that occurs around him.

Dean Caudwell (Tracy Letts) and Olivia (Sarah Gadon) strike up contrasting relationships with Marcus. Gabon is convincing as the girl Marcus dates and who unselfconsciously conducts herself in a manner Marcus finds puzzling. Marcus is not one to leave things be, there must be an answer to her behaviour. Their scenes together are excruciatingly honest. Then it's Caudwell as the college dean who tests Marcus to his moral and philosophical core in their film stealing scenes in the dean's office.

Topped and tailed with voice over by Marcus, Schamus starts us at the end. There is not a cliche in sight as Marcus discusses how a sliding door moment governs his current predicament. The early and late images unravel a clever puzzle. Indignation is a smart, intelligent film but not of the blockbuster variety. It's a film to luxuriate in; discussion with others will undoubtedly follow. 10GUMS.