Winner of the Teddy Jury Prize for lead actor Vicky Knight’s arresting performance, Sacha Polak’s riveting, slice-of-life portrait of an East London nurse uses Knight’s life story and background as the film’s blueprint. After making her screen debut in Polak’s 2019 drama Dirty God, non-professional actor Knight reteamed with the Dutch writer/director for this poignant and raw tale about confronting one’s demons and finding unexpected redemption along the way. 

When 23-year-old Franky embarks on her first romantic relationship with a woman — specifically with one of her hospital patients, Florence (Hanna’s Esmé Creed-Miles), recovering from a suicide attempt — this bond pushes her to seek answers for the mysterious fire that left both her mind and body scarred 15 years prior. In Florence, Franky finds the nerve to confront her estranged father and his then mistress/current spouse about their involvement in the deadly incident. But is the connection between these two wounded souls leading toward healing, or is it inspiring a dangerous taste for revenge? Echoing the work of Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank) and Lynne Ramsay (Morvern Callar), Silver Haze finds a harmonious balance in its gritty exterior and its poetic heart.