Couple in a Hole

This unusual drama is a study of grief and loss. Set in a French forest, it tells the story of John (Paul Higgins) and Karen (Kate Dickie), a married couple who are living in a small cave. Having suffered a tragedy in their recent past, they are now shunning the outside world, avoiding human contact and living in isolation. But when Karen is bitten by a spider, John ventures to the nearest village, where he is aided by a local farmer (Jérôme Kircher). Unbeknown to Karen, a friendship gradually develops between these two men, and here is where this drama is at its best. Some viewers won't be able to accept the film's basic premise, given that it is somewhat bizarre. But Higgins and Dickie are superb as they combine to help create a haunting, downbeat film about two people who have been consumed by sorrow.