Shame features some great elements but I didn’t feel it came together successfully. It’s a film with real visual style, individual scenes that work very well, and committed performances. I’m just not sure it all adds up to much. We are presented with troubled characters, and the impact of their troubles is delved into a little, we just never get enough detail to build a rounded portrait. Motivations are left oblique. It is also arguable how much progress the characters make in dealing with their predicament as the ending is left to interpretation though I did feel it leaned in a particular direction and at least prompted further thought. Overall somewhat unsatisfying though not without merit.