EIFF 2012: Flying Blind and Unconditional

thehollywoodnews.com:

Appearing to start off as a big budget version of Spooks, FLYING BLIND introduces us to lecturer and aeronaut, Frankie, played sincerely by Helen McCrory.A woman who throws herself wholeheartedly into her work, the constant pursuit from student Kahil (Najib Oudghiri) catches her completely off guard and serves as a welcome distraction from her daily routine.

And, though she is initially very guarded with her student, it is not long after their awkward and amusing first date that we are subjected to the duo’s blistering chemistry.If you think you have an inkling as to where this relationship is heading, there is room for guesswork before Frankie’s father warns her of the implications an Algerian-Muslim boyfriend could have on her career.

Add to this the fact that Frankie is nowhere near mastering his language, and unwanted doubt about Kahil’s true intentions start to trickle into her mind.Though it takes until the halfway mark for her doubts to set alarm bells ringing, Kahil has an answer for everything, leading to some very tense moments that Oudghiri delivers with silent ease.

And, although the second half becomes rather predictable, the reasons for Frankie’s personal drama are all very understandable, with Kahil’s heritage a massive stumbling block for her.Challenging our racist and religious perceptions, the finale definitely lacks the emotional punch you’d expect, but leaves us questioning our preconceived post-9/11 ideas.