Argento drama hard to forget

Asia Argento both stars in and directs The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things (Tartan, €24.99), a powerful and moving work guaranteed to linger in the memory long after it ends.

JT is a kid whose mum (Argento) turns up and takes him on the road to nowhere, a sickening descent into a violent hell where life is cheap and nobody cares. Difficult enough at the best of times, but when mum is a junkie and makes a few bucks prostituting herself the problems only add to JT’s fears and sexual confusion.

This is Argento’s second film, and it’s a reflection of her growing stature that Winona Ryder, Peter Fonda and Marilyn Manson are among the cast.

Extras include an interview with the director and another with author JT Leroy on whose book the film is based.

Drama

Star Rating: 5/5.