Filmmaker Pascal Bergamin brings together an absolutely fabulous cast of heroines in the ensemble film Portraits of Dangerous Women. The dark comedy creatively draws inspiration from Peter J. Cohen’s book “Snapshots of Dangerous Women,” a curated collection of found photographs centering women who broke the boundaries. This quietly rebellious and charming British black comedy makes its North American debut on July 11 via VOD.

A Quietly Rebellious British Ensemble

Starring Tara Fitzgerald (Game of Thrones), Jeany Spark (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Yasmin Monet Prince (Supacell), and Mark Lewis Jones (Gangs of London), Portraits of Dangerous Women is set in modern-day rural Britain. The lives of three strangers collide, quite literally, during an accidental road crash. Steph (Spark) and her father, John (Jones), are bickering in the car when she gets blindsided by a dog in the middle of the road. She is going too fast to avoid a collision and ends up hitting the poor canine. Shocked to her core, Steph is also surprised to see another woman, Tina (Fitzgerald), distraught and acting as if she ran over the dog. It’s slightly confusing, as who actually hit the dog is never revealed. Nevertheless, this is the incident that brings the women together.

Watch the Portraits of Dangerous Women trailer here.

Rounding out the trio is a young woman named Ashley (Prince), who claims the dog is hers. It turns out–again, for reasons not entirely clear–the dog isn’t actually hers. It’s a bit of a jumble, but ultimately, the film moves past these stodgy screenwriting moments and allows the characters to explore their rather unusual connection and unlikely bonds.

Crafting Uncomfortable Disconnection

Portraits of Dangerous Women attempts to blend absurdist humor with emotional depth, and there are moments where this is dually felt. It’s clear what writer-director Pascal Bergamin wants to convey in this wry comedy. However, the end result ultimately falls a bit flat. The performances, however, are thoroughly engaging and commendable. Each character is so devoted to their individual quirks, it’s fun to see them interact with their complete opposites.

Takeaway

Portraits of Dangerous Women should be celebrated for bringing out the best in its wonderful cast. As a whole, however, it doesn’t quite nail the landing. Perhaps it’s the unclear narrative or the general sense of disjointedness. The film is being embraced as an “odd collage of people who really shouldn’t be in the same room.” This statement is true, and unfortunately, the awkwardness tends to translate off the screen too.