Heaven Knows What
Year: 2014Certificate: 18
Directed by celebrated filmmakers Josh and Benny Safdie (Lenny Cooke, Daddy Longlegs), Heaven Knows What blends fiction, formalism and raw vérité as it follows a young heroin addict (Arielle Holmes, in a tour de force performance) living on the streets of New York and her highly charged relationship with her boyfriend, Ilya (Caleb Landry-Jones X-Men: First Class, Antiviral). The film—which world premiered at Venice (where it won the CICAE award) and subsequently played NYFF, Toronto and SXSW among other prestigious festivals—is based on Holmes’ memoir Mad Love in New York City.