Two women, sisters, living on a farm in Manitoba, their closest neighbour is 18 miles away. The two are etching out a meagre living from their farm when a stranger arrives. Though Maggie, the eldest, turns him away, David refuses to leave and instead makes himself at home in the barn. She insists he only stay for a day or two but he slowly warms up to them and begins a secretive relationship with Rose, the younger of the McGregor sisters. In the cover of night, the two run off and Maggie follows after them but when she discovers that David is a wanted man, the situation becomes even more dire than before and Maggie finds herself fighting against time and her romantic feelings for David in a race to save her sister.
Danishka Esterhazy’s Black Field is a story of tragic romance, sisterly love and survival. Shot in Manitoba, Esterhazy uses the prairie setting to her full advantage, filling time and space with breathtaking visuals that immerse the viewer while mirroring the inner workings of the characters. At times we see glimpses of the barren land, a clear visualization of the emptiness in the sister’s lives and when Maggie is in transit, searching desperately for her sister, the camera follows her through creepy, tangled pathways that are constantly pushing her back.
It’s a simple story but one that is built with expertise, unfolding in an ending that is likely to surprise. The film relies heavily on the talent of Sara Canning (of TV’s “The Vampire Diaries”) and she provides an emotionally charged performance that is, unfortunately, not met by her co-stars both of whom deliver flat performances with atrocious accents that should have been dropped from the film altogether.
The film is notable for both its visuals and Canning’s performance but also for its score composed by Joe Silva which, in the opening credits alone, beautifully sets up the sorrowful story. It makes a quiet appearance from time to time throughout the film but it never feels intrusive or overbearing; it’s simply beautiful.
Though not without its problems, Black Field is a gorgeous film which delivers a remarkable story of survival with an ending which will leave you pondering Maggie’s motivation and though conclusions may vary, the films’ strengths don’t: it will impress.
See VIFF screening schedule for show times.
