Carnage

Poland 2011, 79 mins
Director: Roman Polanski
Starring: Kate Winslet, John C Reilly, Jodie Foster, Christoph Waltz

Synopsis

Roman Polanski turns his attention to skewering the hypocrisies of the middle classes in this adaptation of the Yasmina Reza's play The God of Carnage. Two New York couples Nancy and Allan (Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz) and Penelope and Michael (Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly) meet to discuss a fight between their children.

In the ensuing conversation shot in real time, the masks slip after the initial civilised tête–a-tête, and the behaviour of the grown-ups is soon far worse than that of their children.

A scathingly funny comedy of manners with a crisp script and taut direction, with performances from a great ensemble cast.