HARVEST
Greece | Athina Rachel Tsangari
A hand runs through a golden autumn field. A man smells an ear of corn. In the first scenes of Athina Rachel Tsangari's “Harvest”, people's connection to nature takes on a tactile quality. But this intense harmony will change over the course of the film, disintegrating and leaving behind only destruction and violence. “Harvest” is Tsangari's return to feature films and the adaptation of the Booker Prize-nominated novel of the same name by British writer Jim Crace. The complex narrative about a rural community on the cusp of economic upheaval is set in an undefined historical context and focuses on the dynamics of farmers and the prevailing patriarchal structures. A mysterious fire in the village sparks discord and mistrust among the farmers. But this is only the beginning of the disintegration of the village community. The lord of the estate, Master Kent (Harry Melling), is trying to carry on the traditions of his late wife, who advocated a fairer use of the land. But when another relative lays claim to the land and tries to make more profit from the villagers' work, the situation escalates. Greek director Tsangari turns “Harvest” into a bitterly witty commentary on class conflicts and the relentless pursuit of individual property in a time of economic change. In the process, deliberate sideswipes at our present are made time and again. The result is a haunting, atmospheric work that celebrated its world premiere this year in competition at the Venice Film Festival.
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Director: Athina Rachel Tsangari Screenplay: Joslyn Barnes, Jim Crace, Athina Rachel Tsangari Length: 131 min. Language: English OF Country of production: Great Britain, Germany, Greece, France, USA Production: Sixteen Films, Louverture Film, Match Factory P, Arte, Haos Film, Why Not, Meraki Film Cast: Caleb Landry Jones, Harry Melling, Rosy McEwen, Arinzé Kene, Thalissa Teixeira, Frank Dillane German rights: MUBI Festivals: Venice, Toronto, New York, Busan, London