The second movie from British writer-director Joanna Hogg is a quiet study in family dynamics where repression and resentment scream silently in almost every scene.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 11, 2022

Indeed, the emotional inhibition of the English upper class is hardly new, but Hogg's understated handling of the subject is fresh and challenging.

Full Review | Aug 12, 2020

It could be worse ... but it could also be better[.]

Full Review | Jul 1, 2020

Archipelago is a sharply observed and excruciatingly honest exploration of family relationships and the mess that we call life. Hogg has proven herself here to be one of Britain's most important film-makers.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 1, 2019

In scene after scene, meaning sneaks in and sometimes roars.

Full Review | Jun 26, 2014

This is a beautifully distilled and literally still work that lingers in the mind long after its conclusion.

Full Review | Jun 23, 2014

As much as a downbeat comedy of bourgeois mores, Archipelago is a sort of claustrophobic horror story, set in a place of no easy escape.

Full Review | Jun 18, 2012

Gloomy and unrewarding.

Full Review | Mar 8, 2011

Exposes the fault lines of a middle-class family on holiday.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 7, 2011

Archipelago is a subtle film of sensed absences.

Full Review | Mar 7, 2011

A car-crash compelling, painfully comic distillation of modern British middle class mores.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Mar 7, 2011

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 4, 2011

Hogg, though a fine film-maker, doesn't always prevent us feeling that these people are not worth worrying about.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 4, 2011

Is art the only way for the privileged to deal with their boredom and discontent? Hogg seems to be suggesting so.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 3, 2011

Hogg is inviting us to dismiss these people as fundamentally different to ourselves. But sat in a dark auditorium, we are merely laughing at each other.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Mar 3, 2011

It's a difficult watch and a difficult sell, but this is quietly outstanding.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Mar 3, 2011

No other British director is making films quite like this.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 3, 2011

Ed Rutherford's photography is superb, but this is a pale imitation of an Ingmar Bergman chamber drama.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 3, 2011

Fascinating and confident film-making style of lengthy character improvisation ... a very slow burner that gives the opportunity to 'people watch' on screen.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 2, 2011

Archipelago is a sad, funny, wise film.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 2, 2011