Inter Alia (National Theatre Live) – 105 minutes

Inter Alia is Latin, meaning “among other things”.

That perfectly describes the busy, multi-faceted life of highly intelligent, not to be messed with UK Crown Court judge Jessica Parks (Rosamund Pike).

A proud feminist, she is a dominant figure on the bench.

Photos by Manuel Harlan

Married to another legal eagle, Michael Wheatley (Jamie Glover), she is a protective, if at times overbearing, mother and loyal friend.

Her existence is a constant juggle of the competing demands on her time.

One minute she is sending a 22-year-old to prison for rape, the next feverishly searching for her 18-year-old son Harry’s (Jasper Talbot) Hawaiian shirt.

And then it is orchestrating a substantial dinner party, if not singing karaoke with her girlfriends.

But somehow, without dropping the ball or suffering burnout, she manages to find a way to do all that and more.

Her fondest memories include raising her son properly, notwithstanding the unbridled fear she felt when he briefly disappeared from a playground at age four.

She was at pains to teach him right from wrong and respect for women – that “no means no”.

And then, out of the blue, Harry, this seemingly dutiful young man, is charged with sexual violation of a classmate, Amy (who we never meet).

This is a young woman whom he played alongside and has known since primary school, whom he wanted as his girlfriend.

Harry attended a party in his Hawaiian shirt. He and Amy were both drunk, but he vehemently denies raping her.

Jessica and Michael immediately spring into action, obtaining the best legal counsel for Harry.

What Jessica finds on Harry’s laptop, on his social media, is deeply troubling, but it proves nothing.

Clearly though, there is more to this story.

Lauded Australian playwright Suzie Miller (Prima Facie) and director Justin Martin have crafted a compelling, lifelike drama, with humorous elements.

We, the audience, step into a psychological and emotional cauldron.

Inter Alia is another thoughtful, magnificently written work that delves into important societal issues, including toxic masculinity.

Rosamund Pike gives a bravura showing as the honourable, accountable judge, a mother torn, wrestling with the invidious situation in which Harry finds himself.

She presents as dynamic, determined and dextrous – energised and angst riddled, desperately trying to hold it all together.

As Jessica’s husband, Michael, Jamie Glover brings pride, love, anger and vulnerability to his role.

As Harry, Jasper Talbot is all at sea, scared, seeking reassurance, attempting to navigate the tumult in which he is the central player.

Accompanied by a two-piece band – drums and guitar – the action moves swiftly and seamlessly between the courtroom, the home and the out and about.

Set and costume design are by Miriam Buether, with video design by Willie Williams.

Movement, lighting and sound play crucial roles in breathing life into the narrative.

They are the domain of Lucy Hind, Natasha Chivers and Ben and Max Ringham respectively.

The moral high ground is all well and good with professional distance, but what happens to one’s principles and practices when one’s personal life explodes.

Navigating that is never going to be easy.

And so it is that Inter Alia has a disturbing truth about it in this increasingly connected digital age where the generation gap can be perceived as wider than ever.

NT Live’s Inter Alia, in select cinemas now, scores an 8½ out of 10.