When the opening shot pans across a female corpse lying in the undergrowth, the last thing you would expect to unfold would be a discourse on the frailty of relationships.

But that is exactly what happens in this exquisitely structured thriller based on Andrew Bovell's stage play, Speaking in Tongues.

The plot revolves around psychiatrist Valerie (Hershey), a woman as tough in her professional life as she is insecure in her marriage.

She and husband John (Rush) lost their 11-year-old daughter when she was murdered, 18 months previously, and the shadow of grief hangs over their relationship.

Among her clients is Sonja (Kerry Armstrong), a troubled mother-of-two whose relationship she is all too aware is heading for the rocks.

She suspects her detective husband Leon (LaPaglia) is having an affair - and he is, with the lonely Jane (Rachael Blake).

Rather than feature on the police modus operandi, as is the case in most psychological thrillers, Lawrence concentrates on characterisation.

The personalities of the players are slowly and tellingly fleshed out, while a sublimely bleak streak of black humour prevents things getting too heavy.

"I'm not having an affair," Leon tells Jane. "It's just a one-night stand that happened twice."

The emotional storyline draws on the 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus' school of thought as Leon peels the emotional layers away from those caught up in the crime.

As his wife observes, all she wants is a relationship that is "passionate, challenging and honest." This movie is all of those.

Tim Evans