I was not expecting much from this movie, in spite of knowing and liking the director's previous work. But I was completely drawn in to it, warming up slowly until totally engrossed.
Intially it was extremely difficult to see the brutal depictions of death and torture of animals but as it was the driving theme of the movie I stayed with it, and the reward was worth it. The ominous and deadly sounds of gunfire percolating the soundtrack added to the suspense and disgust, along with the chapter headings as the movie progresses.
One gets inexorably drawn into this "crazy woman's" life as she draws her neighbors into it too. Turns out she's one of the few sane people in a village of hunters and poachers, who slaughter wildlife indiscriminately and abuse women as a matter of course. A few exchanges with the village priest only serve to highlight the spirit-less and twisted views of man's dominion over nature, as interpreted from the Bible.
The acting overall is excellent, the cinematography and director's pacing is wonderful. The story unfolds organically and deliberately and we get to know the characters as the protagonist discovers them, as we do in life itself. The lead actress delivers a tour de force performance, without which the movie would suffer.
My one quibble is the very end, a little too pat and easy, marring the otherwise wholly believable story and delightfully satisfying revelations of this murder mystery. But in a way this story is also a fairy tale and as such, why not believe in a magical end? As with our ongoing destruction of the planet, if we move into our higher nature and capacities, our course can change. Believe, and then, as our heroine does, take action!
Intially it was extremely difficult to see the brutal depictions of death and torture of animals but as it was the driving theme of the movie I stayed with it, and the reward was worth it. The ominous and deadly sounds of gunfire percolating the soundtrack added to the suspense and disgust, along with the chapter headings as the movie progresses.
One gets inexorably drawn into this "crazy woman's" life as she draws her neighbors into it too. Turns out she's one of the few sane people in a village of hunters and poachers, who slaughter wildlife indiscriminately and abuse women as a matter of course. A few exchanges with the village priest only serve to highlight the spirit-less and twisted views of man's dominion over nature, as interpreted from the Bible.
The acting overall is excellent, the cinematography and director's pacing is wonderful. The story unfolds organically and deliberately and we get to know the characters as the protagonist discovers them, as we do in life itself. The lead actress delivers a tour de force performance, without which the movie would suffer.
My one quibble is the very end, a little too pat and easy, marring the otherwise wholly believable story and delightfully satisfying revelations of this murder mystery. But in a way this story is also a fairy tale and as such, why not believe in a magical end? As with our ongoing destruction of the planet, if we move into our higher nature and capacities, our course can change. Believe, and then, as our heroine does, take action!