The film begins with hospital uniforms going through a clean rack. The music is eerie. The melancholy feeling is subtle. Late Shift starts off with the main character taking the train. The sense of stress has a poetic direction to it. Written and directed by Petra Biondina Volpe, the setting of a hospital dealing with many compromises paints an honest picture of reality. Set in Switzerland, the hospital is a place where the stressors of Late Shift are overwhelming, but make for quite a spectacle. 

The film’s main character is Floria Lind, and she is played by Leonie Benesch. I adored her role in The Teachers’ Lounge, and I adore her as well in Late Shift.  She is superb at playing someone that can be thick-skinned in many uncertain situations and Late Shift has plenty of them. As she starts her shift at the hospital, disorganization piles up around her, but her mind is in aplace to navigate the chaos no matter the cost. The question is can she do it without losing herself? Her student nurse is Amelie, played by Selma Jamal Aldin. There may be a way to have assistance, but juggling priorities is at the root of mental suspense. It is written, played, and directed so well—audiences will feel like they are part of the Late Shift.

Annoyances among patients is a main conflict during the shift. They seem continuous. The real world of a hospital setting is riveting. The chaos made me think of cognitive therapy. There is the aspect to step back and count to reach the resolution and then keep going and succeed.

Throughout the moving moments, Late Shift continuously blindsides with shifting priorities. That is a cinematic aspect though in creating a true hospital setting. The fact that a problem can arise and one situation may need priority over another creates the portrait of alertness hitting multiple pauses in Late Shift. The essence of feeling on edge throughout makes this film a masterpiece of tension. Benesch’s performance stands out as she creates a real feel in her mental awareness of everything going on around her.  Her performance is audacious–a natural force for cinematic emotions.

Trying to deliver the best treatment takes sacrifice in dealing not only with patients, but also their families. That all leads to the fear of who gets priority or also results. Floria stands in the middle of all the curveballs passing her through her shift. There are arguments, there are disputes, and there are unsettled conflicts. Late Shift is a film where audiences will feel compelled to follow every step of her work day.

The whole ride feels like the shift may never end. The many obstacles of the hospital can be rough. The film is written and directed to paint the picture clear as crystal. In this world, the hospital industry sees stressors every day, but the concept of having a heart is what thrives in Late Shift. I have a sister that is in the medical field, and she has told me how much she has had to juggle in all kinds of shifts. I felt I saw a bit of her world as I watched Late Shift. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.