Flying Blind (2012) *

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Director:Katarzyna Klimkiewicz

Script: Naomi Wallace, Bruce McLeod, Caroline Harrington

Producer: Alison Sterling

Cast:Helen McCrory, Najib Oudghiri, Kenneth Cranham, Tristan Gemmill, Sherif Eltayeb, Philippa Howard, Lorcan Cranitch

UK                   *                      94mins                       2012               Drama

Klimkiewicz was offered this feature on the back of her Short Hanoi-Warsaw, which screened at the Encounters Short FF in Bristol. Having seen her film, producer Sterling offered the opportunity of directing her first feature film, so it’s no mystery why she jumped at the chance.

It’s a mystery to me however, why this film was ever made. It has no bite; nothing memorable or remarkable about it at all and in the end comes across as no more than light filler for Middle-England television. It cuts no interesting, dangerous or new ground and if anything is sadly divisive and stereotyped in its portrayal.

McCrory plays a pretty unconvincing middle-aged aerospace engineer, engaged in designing the latest in ‘drone’ technology. Part-time, she also teaches aerospace technology at a college, which is where she meets the young handsome Najib Oudghiri, an Algerian studying engineering in Bristol.

Described as ‘a strong, bright woman making her way in a man’s world’, Frankie strikes more as an un-engaging, unsympathetic character designing bomb delivery for the MoD and behaves extraordinarily stupidly not just once, but throughout the film. There’s never the slightest whiff of authenticity as Frankie samples the ‘dangerous’ delights of forbidden fruit. Her relationships with her work colleagues, her father, the stab at aero-engineering, all of it smells fake and unexplored. 

Having also played a role in 2007 title Rendition, I truly hope that Oudghiri’s career goes on to cover far more than merely that of playing terrorists for UK/US boring, stereotypical alarmist fodder; his ability demands alot more than this script, this role, ever afforded.

The audience is always more than one step ahead of the action, which is leaden and signposted. The dialogue never lifts off the page and all the characters remain resolutely stuck in the mud. Nothing about it is exciting. I would like to say ‘dull as dishwater’, but even dishwater can sometimes have depth. Flying Blind will sink without trace. AT