SOME films are best experienced without any prior understanding.

The Perfection is one of those.

This Canadian drama popped up on Netflix during the same week I coincidentally heard an American film review podcast’s strong recommendation.

The attraction here is a clever plot that includes several twists you may not see coming.

The film is set in the world of classical music. The lead character is Charlotte, a talented cellist who was forced to prematurely end her promising career to care for her terminally ill mother.

When we meet Charlotte her mother has just died and she is travelling from the US to a recital in Shanghai in an endeavor to re-connect with the owners of Boston’s exclusive Bachoff Music School at which she previously trained.

She is immediately embraced by Anton and Paloma, the couple who head the school, and introduced to their new protégé, Elizabeth.

There is an immediate attraction between the two women, both mutual admiration of their talents and a sexual attraction. They spend the night together and then decide to take a short break together. It’s on a bus trip through the countryside that things start to unravel.

Like one of the symphonies the women might perform, the film is divided into four sections, named Mission, Detour, Home and Duet. It’s thoroughly engaging, surprising in parts and well acted.

The film is directed by Richard Shepard who has been around since 1991, mostly working in television. Three of his other films, The Matador (2005), The Hunting Party (2007) and Dom Hemingway (2013), have been well reviewed.

Shepard also wrote all those films and co-wrote The Perfection with Eric C. Charmelo and Nicole Snyder.

Charlotte is played by Allison Williams who is mainly known from the television series Girls but was also so effective as the girlfriend in 2017’s Get Out.

Both Williams and Logan Browning, who plays Elizabeth, are good but probably the stand-out performance is from veteran Steven Weber (you’ll know the face) playing Anton.

Avoid any spoilers and you should be highly entertained. Be aware, there are a few strong moments.