HOT: Closed for Winter, Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon St, Carlton

Closed for Winter is a story is told from the eyes of Elise Silverton (Natalie Imbruglia), who has grown up in the shadow of a childhood family tragedy. It affects the way she interacts with her stiff, closed-off mother (Deborah Kennedy), her boring but caring boyfriend (Daniel Frederiksen) and she trudges through her life as if in a slow fog. Imbruglia's big eyes convey all the pain, blame and bewilderment of Elise's life, especially when the family doctor (Tony Martin) brings to the surface an unspoken but suspected event.

This poised Australian film is cinemographically beautiful, subtle and speaks of the secrets of suburbia - I think it deserves more of an audience than it has received.