I think the movie is quite cryptic. I'm not talking about the background, because you can easily get most of the characteristics of the community; of course it will be much more understandable for those who know the Afrikaners' situation, but some main points, as the intense religiousness or the will of keeping black people apart, are quite clear anyway. The plot is the cryptic element, because in the end you really can't understand exactly why everything is happened. In fact, you cannot but imagine Janno's feelings, for instance. You understand that he is probably homosexual and that he is aware that this would not be accepted by his community, but it is all very vague and, i dare say, not deepened by the movie. Janno's jalousy regarding Pieter is another theme which, while perceivable, is not clearly analyzed. The end therefore seems a bit too much: Janno, as far as we can understand, has run away, but you cannot really explain his choice (it can be that he wants to seek a different community, but this is all spectator's speculation) and therefore it seems a bit of a forced ending. Apart from his homosexuality, did he feel unapted for the farm working? Sometimes it is hinted, but again it is quite unclear, and in Janno's parents behaviour towards him you cannot really see anything that shows a deep disappointment for their son. Janno seems actually to make all by himself: was then his insecurity the real cause of his escape? I think that it's fine if a movie doesn't give all the explanations, but when there are such incomprehensible links cause-effect or feeling-behaviour the plot really seems forced. It is a pity because the unusual setting and the peculiarities of Janno's community are really good bases and the plot premises could be fruitful indeed.
Anyway, it is a movie very pleasing to see, because it has a very nice, warm yet dark, melancholic photography; landscapes and rooms quite catch your interest. Actors' performances were really impressive, expecially regarding Janno and Pieter. The harvest shots are marvellous.
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kevindaroit28 March 2020
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shortpuppy19 December 2019***** Spoilers ahead***** This film centers around a small Afrikaner farming family in a tight knit religious community, and the conflicts between their 2 sons, 1 a recently adopted orphan. 1 appears to be deeply closeted, and the other straight, & on the surface homophobic yet goes with older men for money.
Although this film is depressing, it is interesting and provocative. Discussing afterwards with friends and hearing their different takes is particularly interesting, because there is a lot going on here, much understated, or unsaid. Major theme portrayed but not verbalized is post-apartheid life for Afrikaners in S. Africa. Another major theme for the most part understated is homophobia, and misogyny.
DOUBLE SPOILER ALERT: At the tail end, the older son walks into a brush fire they are all supposed to be fighting. Was this just another gay suicide? Yikes, in 2019! Or did he simply use the fire as cover to run away.? A woman consoling the mother, tells here 'he may come back'. So, i'm hoping it was the latter. -
birkgez31 January 2020Just finished watching this very powerful portrayal of a deeply religious and conservative Afrikaans farming family in the Free State region of South Africa who take in a drug using street kid played immensely well by Alex Van Dyk. In fact, he, and the young lead Brent Vermeulen (who plays the family's only son Janno) were both outstanding in this film. And I believe this was their first film roles? The acting from all the main characters was superb, as was the script and direction from Etienne Kallos. A special mention must be made of the sublime scenery in that part of South Africa. I gave this 8 stars (instead of 10) for two reasons. At times I did find it quite slow moving, especially given the length of the film, and secondly, despite the overall high quality as I outlined, I found it a quite depressing and bleak story that left me reaching for a block of chocolate at the end.
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Kirpianuscus14 September 2019A powerful film. For performances and cinematography, first. A religious story. It is not an evidence, only the feeling across entire film. A surprising force of acting of the two young lead actors. The photography, the Afrikaans itself, the bitter atmosphere, the game of appearences as solid virtues. The only problem, maybe the story who is more a sketch for give to the viewer the chance to define the moments, to put together the reactions of characters or to judge.
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yusufpiskin30 December 2020Saw this at 38. Istanbul film festival...
Beautiful cinematography (especially the scene of the mother praying on the farm), good plot twist. The images of "The Harvesters" blur one by one as if the movie were trying to disappear. Dust, heat from the sun, huge and arid crops and even bodies of water look notoriously distorted, worn and at the limit of their existence. This is how Afrikaners groups live in the south of the African continent, isolated in small groups surrounded by the predominant ethnic groups with whom they have been in contact for centuries, but that history has kept them distant, in a relationship of owner and slave and that today are in an exclusive division that is not far from Apartheid's times. The number of populations is reduced, and their stay will not last for a long time - the characters in the film warn -and such is the representation made by the photography, one that portrays the inevitable uncertainty ahead.
Very strong feature debut from a superbly talented filmmaker. Classic Cain and Abel story with a gay and postcolonial twist. Excited to see what Kallos does next. -
luis_sklh4 January 2020I watched the film last April in Barcelona at a festival. It was outstanding and has stayed in my head ever since. a landscape of wide fields, huge cliffs, dark clouds and the brutal waves of the deep blue sea form the setting for a quiet but extremely tense story. The film is unique and poetic. The shots are beautiful.
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AnwarHaddad1311 August 2019Another depressing movie with a Gay (only in theory) lead, that has a bleak sad ending, and most the characters are annoying. it's a shame because the trailer looked very promising and the Afrikaans farmers situation in South Africa as a backdrop is interesting. on the other hand the acting is good especially from the 2 leads and the cinematography is beautiful.
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gulvalp27 October 2021Simply beautiful! A story told through divine shots and delightfull cinematography. Impressive directing and wonderful performances. A gem!
Watch it!
Director: Etienne Kallos
Cast Alex van Dyk Brent Vermeulen Juliana Venter Morné Visser Erika Wessels Benre Labuschachne Danny Keough Roxana Kerdachi. -
alfadyr-362125 October 2019This movie has a nice atmosphere in an usual place of storytelling and tries tell a story about acomplicated family relationship. However you cannot really tell what is it about. Is it about how hard is to be gay in a religious family? Is it to mask lack of love and fear of being alone through God. Tried to say all of that and yet it says nothing
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mjj2002-809-94699414 November 2019The film clearly leaves an aftertaste, but overall disappointing. If the plot were not so deeply immersed in the problems of local residents, it would become more understandable to a wide audience. Of the advantages, I would note the psychologically accurate acting of the young debutants and the general piercing and bitter atmosphere in which the hero loses faith in himself and in justice.
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lpadilla-9384411 November 2022This movie easily could have been 30 minutes shorter. It was boring. I kept waiting for a something to happen. Clearly Janno had a fear of being replaced, and it actually happens. But it takes 2 hours for it to happen.
I find it odd that both of the teen boys were kind of adopted in an attempt to keep the farm going and the Afrikaaner culture alive.
The only reason I watched it until the end, was because I was interested in the Afrikaan culture, at least the farming community. It's not something you see much about here in the United States. I also wanted to see how Janno dealt with his feelings for his "friend' Heinne. They just leave that part dangling. It's a frustrating, boring film.
I will say that the acting on the Janno character and the mother is pretty good.