[Film Review] A Good Woman Is Hard To Find (2019)

There is something special about revenge films; they provide this cathartic outlet in a fantasy setting, with the protagonist carrying the acts that many of us have wished upon those who have wronged us. But it’s not always the simplest task to get the right balance in a revenge film, however, Abner Pastoll figured out the magic formula for what makes an awe-inspiring revenge film when it came to his 2019 film A Good Woman Is Hard To Find.

Please note: This review contains spoilers 

Sarah is a struggling young mother who is balancing looking after her two children whilst trying to find enough money to put food on the table for them, a heart-breaking reality for many young women which we see in the opening scenes. After the murder of her husband she’s been left to fend for herself with only her judgemental mother there for occasional support. But Sarah’s life is unexpectedly changed when a local thug forces his way into her house to hide stolen goods, and keeps returning to collect the drugs and sell, pulling her quickly into an underworld of people with no human morals. 

A Good Woman Is Hard to find quickly establishes the hardships that Sarah faces and presents them in a convincing way - her situation and reaction to unfolding events never feels forced or fantasized in anyway. It is easy to reconcile with how she is feeling and the struggles she is going through; living in a rough estate of Northern Ireland, trying to raise two children the best she can, struggling to ensure there’s enough food on the table even night all the whilst dealing with the grief and loss of her husband. Which is why when Tito (played by Andrew Simpson) entangles her life into his without a thought for her wellbeing, the viewer is already connected to her emotions and can understand the actions she takes. 

Throughout the film there is a tense atmosphere that leaves us feeling uncertain of anything to come. The film subtly builds and paces itself until we come to the explosion from Sarah after Tito tries to rape her one evening, culminating in her inventively using her vibrator to disable him before repeatedly stabbing him to death in her bedroom whilst her young children play in the room next door. Even though it feels shocking, we merely witness a woman protecting not only herself but also the only thing that truly matters to her, which are her children. The proceeding scene is one that requires a strong stomach for graphic gore and violence as we witness Sarah procedurally dismember and dispose of Tito’s body. Even though this scene is quite disturbing, there is a gratification in watching her eradicate the body of a man that only served life to fulfil his own needs. 

Sarah Bolger plays the protagonist and delivers one of the most compelling and soulful performances to date. There is not a moment within the film that you do not feel emotionally connected to this woman and understand the plight she is going through. It feels as though Bolger was designed for this role and throws her absolute everything into making it feel like a realistic portrayal. As the film progresses towards Sarah seeking vengeance for her husband’s death at the hands of the local drug boss, we see the development of the character from the beginning and how she rises into her undefined power that no man, regardless of how powerful they think they are, can stop. 

Revenge films so often become over the top and completely unbelievable, which can remove the element of realism that adds an allure to this type of film. This film doesn’t do that and instead allows the viewer to identify with Sarah, especially if you’re a mother because protecting your children is always going to be the highest of priorities and you’ll do that at any cost. A Good Woman Is Hard To Find is one of the most brutal, realistic and victorious revenge films to come out in recent years, and Bolger deserves praise for her performance. 

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