London Film Festival Day 8: Lion, The Wailing & Kate Plays Christine

This beguiling faux-documentary sees actress Kate Lyn Sheil take the viewer through the physical and psychological process of playing real-life newscaster Christine Chubbuck, who shot herself dead live on air in 1974 (as examined in another LFF movie, Christine).

Providing a compelling window into what it takes to play a real-life person on screen and layering on plenty of insight about the enigmatic Chubbuck herself, the film's fictional seams are sometimes a little more apparent than the filmmakers might think (namely that Sheil is basically putting on a meta-performance), but on the whole the mind-melting conceit plays out in thoughtful, provocative fashion.

If nothing else, it keeps Chubbuck's fascinating story in the public consciousness, and gives Sheil a platform to prove her acting chops beyond any doubt.

Rating: Its free-wheeling nature is its strongest asset and most potent enemy, resulting in a rather overlong, indulgent end product, but as a mystifying provocation, it does more good than bad. 6/10