Mandragora

I’ve seen some grim films in my time but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen another as relentlessly downbeat and depressing as this.Accusations of misery porn are not unjustified, but on its own terms - small budget, non-professional cast, potentially exploitative content - it’s well done, certain scenes vividly (too vividly) etched in my mind many years after I saw it. I support its existence, salute its intentions and applaud its filmmaking.But I’d run many miles rather than ever watching it again.