SHADOWS Contactless: Friday 24 July 9 pm SBS + Messenger: IN A WORLD

In a world where the barriers are determined by gender one woman struggles to break through and reach for the crest. Well, that's the way it should go. To Carol, who knows all about gravel voiced movie trailers from being a Hollywood vocal coach and the daughter of a prominent voice over man, it means a nice career fulfilment. The king of the voiceovers has died and there is room at the top. Can she do it?

Lake Bell's frustration film is kept nice through quirky humour and a light touch to allow the serious themes through. The scramble to take the top spot on what seems to us as the edge of the periphery of the film industry might seem trivial but the competition's ferocity reveals the darker side of tinseltown. No one doubts Carol's vocal prowess or professionalism but also no one considers her a candidate if only because the words of the title are never uttered by any but the most testosteronic tonsils to ever approach a mic.And just when you think she's broken through, Carol gets a reality check from a surprise corner.

You might say that Bell's film is a subversion in itself by its very existence but that might only serve to illustrate how far artists like her still have to go. The easy flow and warmth of character add up to something feelgood and that's what we get but we're also thinking.