CRACKS is an intense psychological drama set in a boarding school for girls. The storyline is quite predictable insofar as such topics as passion, lust, sex, bullying, abuse, peer group pressure, and power politics are brought to the fore, and they're all subjects that have been done previously on film. Yet at the same time this low budget production has a sheen of quality to it, an air of lyricism that makes it watchable.

Eva Green headlines as the seductive teacher who's a subject of affection for many of the girls in her care. Green can do no wrong in my eyes and gives a typically assured and confident role. Juno Temple is the main villain of the piece and is well cast because there's something repulsive about her character that Temple nails ever so well. The rest of the cast are fine, although Maria Valverde is never quite as sympathetic as she should be.

CRACKS is a slow moving film in which little really happens until the end, and yet there is some suspense here, as well as drama. Nothing is very explicit and yet the themes explored are nonetheless powerful, and the ending is suitably horrific. It's not the sort of film that's going to set the world on fire, but it engrosses all the same.

It's the private all-girls St. Mathilda's School on Stanley Island, England in 1934. Fiamma Coronna (María Valverde) is the new girl from Spain. She boards with Di Radfield (Juno Temple),Poppy (Imogen Poots),and others. The girls admire their diving teacher Miss "G" Gribben (Eva Green). Miss G was a former student and has stayed in the isolated school. She claims to be worldly but is barely able to go to the nearby town. Fiamma is desperate to leave but she has caught the attention of Miss G. Di was the former favorite of Miss G and the previous best diver. Fiamma tries to reject Miss G and Di grows jealous.

There is a great psycho sexual tone. There are great murky young female relationships. Eva Green plays the disturbed mentor with assurance. This takes on female connections without the unicorns and puppy dogs. The tension builds more and more with Miss G's slow deterioration. Jordan Scott's directions are steady and beautiful. She may have a future in the family business.

A carefully made, intelligent, powerful film that makes you wonder, among other things, why director Jordan Scott (the daughter of Ridley) has not had the opportunity to make anything else since 2009. It is a film that demands your attention: just when you think you may know where it is heading, it turns the other way. At first, it appears to be the story of a non-conformist teacher inspiring her devoted students; then, it seems to be about the jealously of the teacher's favorite student when she feels she's in danger of being overshadowed by a new arrival; then it looks like the teacher admires the new arrival because she has so much in common with her; and finally, it turns into something else, something darker, leading to a tragedy that has a real impact on the viewer. Exceptional performances, appropriate musical scoring and beautiful photography add to the experience. *** out of 4.