WITH its frustrated and nasty title character, THE MAID (15) could easily have ended up as a horror film. Thankfully, in the subtle hands of director Sebastian Silva, this Chilean flick turns out to something far more thoughtful.

WITH its frustrated and nasty title character, THE MAID (15) could easily have ended up as a horror film.

Thankfully, in the subtle hands of director Sebastian Silva, this Chilean flick turns out to something far more thoughtful as he lifts the lid on the off-kilter relationship between a family and the hired help.

Catalina Saavedra is brilliant as Raquel, the maid who fiercely guards her role in the home, where she is both ruler and prisoner. She's cruel to the eldest daughter and any other help the family hires - until she meets new recruit Lucy who helps Raquel to start enjoying life. Shot in a documentary style with handheld cameras, it's not the prettiest film to look at but Raquel's conversion from sourpuss to cheerful team player is surprisingly heart-warming.