Keep Breathing a really clever, important, layered exploration of sexual consent, communication, boundaries, relationships. It is a really powerful and intense film, overwhelming and difficult to watch in places. I had to remind myself to keep breathing all the way through!

It is not just about consent, but gender as well and this truly became the most incredible look at the issues at the point in the flashback where Emmeline's character felt the need to apologise and the multiple reactions of Damien's character in the lift after that in present time.

The film doesn't lecture, nor does it come across as a teachy or moralising piece, but it is certainly educational, and does provoke thought and open ideas through shining a light on the grey areas of sexual consent, relationships, personal boundaries, communication, gender roles, and more..

It's incredibly written and very thought provoking, very important and very relevant, I am sure to many many people, and interpretations will be shaped by that to some extent.

Both Emmeline's and Damien's performances were truly outstanding and the quality of the film was impressive.

Not only is it raising awareness but it is also an incredible, compelling drama.

This was the second time seeing Keep Breathing, and I was surprised that my feelings were stronger on a second watch.. I'm even more overwhelmed than the first time.

I would love to hear what you all think?

Agree Rosie, it highlights that gender conditioning of needing to apologise / to make things better / feeling guilty. Her character is more assertive in the present day scene, but still approaches him at the end in the same way with almost that same need to make things better. I'd love to see a trilogy of these films, where she has more agency by the end.

Question for anyone who watched the film on both nights of the Beeston film fest - do you think the short film before it on the first night affected your viewing of KB? It did for me, I was so angry with Damien's character, and much less so the following night! I'm convinced it is because of that film before where the director made the auditionee strip in order to experience acting vulnerability.