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Following the death of her father, Alice (Golden Globe (R)-winner Ruth Wilson, 'The Affair') returns to her home village for the first time in 15 years to claim from her estranged brother (Mark Stanley, 'Game of Thrones') the family farm she believes is rightfully hers. From acclaimed filmmaker Clio Barnard, one of the premier new voices in British cinema, DARK RIVER is a taut and powerful psychological drama.
[Clio] Barnard is a director who deserves her place on your watch list; it would be cinema's loss if she didn't reunite with her Dark River stars in the future - they bring out the best in each other during the worst of times.
Clio Barnard's film is full of weather and brooding atmosphere, and Wilson is superb as the nervy but resourceful Alice. But Dark River loses its way somewhat in a jarringly melodramatic climax.
The rugged emotional territory (and the Yorkshire accents) prove heavy-going in an uncompromising film that elicits a lot more admiration than enjoyment.
There's scarcely room here for improvement at the level of craft or performance; in particular, it's gratifying to see leading lady Ruth Wilson headlining a big-screen vehicle worthy of her flinty brilliance.
If it feels overly familiar in the light of its aforementioned contemporaries, it's still a beautifully made and acted film and Barnard manages to pull off the tricksy resolution without it feeling contrived.