The Mourning Hills

Sporadic interesting moments here. Some evident effort to get out of the mold, with a various degree of success, and in particular, quite difficult to get above the water line towards the end. Acting was ok, and the youngest cast was not the weakest link. The movie could use some brushing up of the dialogue, deeper development of the characters and more courage to challenge the boundaries, in which case it would become quite more interesting. As such, I'd watch it, begrudgingly, only if nothing better would be available.

I found this film to be a very rewarding experience. The director deftly juxtaposes far-away shots of nature, in all its calm stillness, with close-ups of what's going on underneath (ants scurrying about, fish zipping through a stream). The effect is immediate, and the contrast resonates through the entire film. The interspersed monologues offer philosophical musings that are broad, but relevant to the plot (this narrative structure reminded me a bit of Terrence Malick's Thin Red Line). The characters are believable, and their dialogue comes across as quite natural. I very much enjoyed the fact that the cast was small. It gave a more intimate feeling, and again, the juxtaposition of a few characters out in the vast wilderness is used to great effect. Overall, this film is a beautiful meditation on nature. I'm lucky to have seen it!