educatedowl

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!