77. Dark River; movie review

DARK RIVER
Cert 15
90 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language

After The Arbor and The Selfish Giant, I really expected the career of Clio Barnard to take off. In fact, I feel rather sad that it hasn't.
Incredibly, this is only her third film in eight years. She makes Daniel Day-Lewis seem prolific.
She was hailed as a new voice of British cinema for The Selfish Giant but by then she was already pushing 50.
So, perhaps, instead of thinking she is going to be the next big thing, we should just enjoy her occasional nuggets,
Here, with Dark River, she evokes a side of Britain which is rarely seen, develops complex characters  and comes up with a devastating finale.
This family drama stars Ruth Wilson as Alice, a young woman who, following the death of her father Sean Bean), returns to her village for the first time in 15 years to claim the tenancy to his farm.
Standing in her way is her brother (Mark Stanley) who nursed their dad through his dying days and feels he is more entitled to the property.
It is easy to see why he would be aggrieved at the sudden appearance of a sister with whom he has little in common.
Initially, Mrs W and I were firmly on his side, backing the argument that living and working on the farm means he has the strongest claim.
However, the more Barnard delicately peels back the layers of a traumatic family history, the clearer his sister's case becomes.
Wilson and Stanley are utterly convincing in the lead roles and Barnard's knowledge of Yorkshire creates a harsh faming environment which adds to the realism.
Dark River can be frustrating because it goes over the same ground several times in its first hour but it is worth perseverance for an arresting and entirely unexpected finale.
I wish Barnard made more movies but, hey, if I have to wait another five years, I will.

Reasons to watch: Clio Barnard again grabs great British drama out of what seems to be ordinary life.
Reasons to avoid: Goes over the same ground too much in the first hour

Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: yes
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 8/10

Director quote - Clio Barnard: "I was interested in exploring the damage that’s done if sexual trauma remains unspoken; sexual abuse within the family in particular is incredibly difficult to talk about. I’m glad that we’ve begun speaking about sexual abuse."

The big question - What is the future for British farms?

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