Shame | What to Watch

An uncompromising portrait of a sex addict, played by Michael Fassbender

An uncompromising portrait of a sex addict, played by Michael Fassbender.

As a New York corporate high-flier, Fassbender’s character finds his finely balanced world falling apart as he descends into even more reckless and damaging behaviour when his volatile sister (Carey Mulligan) re-enters his life.

Expertly filmed by director Steve McQueen, this is not easy viewing. But it is the naked emotions on display from the excellent actors rather than the bare bodies that will make you squirm.

Fassbender brilliantly conveys rage, fear and self-disgust, while Mulligan is no less revelatory, particularly in the scene in which she sings New York, New York, turning it from an anthem of triumph into a raw admission of sadness and vulnerability.