Claire Dolan

REVIEW
Employing the same disciplined, spare style as his debut film Clean, Shaven, Kerrigan's follow-up is another cold film with a warm center. Featuring characters and a narrative a little less compelling than his debut work, the challenging Claire Dolan follows the story of an Irish immigrant (Cartlidge), a high-class prostitute who owes her sleazy pimp (Meaney) money and is working only until her debt is paid. She attempts to escape her existence by moving to Long Island, where she begins dating a kindly cabbie (an excellent D'Onofrio). Her past, of course, catches up with her. Some terrific individual moments, sturdy performances and an effective score give relief from the film's depressing tone; ultimately, this unusual character study moves in unexpected ways.