Vigil
Director. Vincent Ward, New Zealand, 1984, 91 minutes, 16mm In rural New Zealand, 12 year old Toss sees her father fall to his death trying to rescue a sheep down a ravine. Local hunter Ethan carries the body back. Toss' mother wants to sell the farm, but grandfather decides to hire Ethan to keep the farm going. Vincent Ward's first feature film is marked by unique imagery and atmosphere, striking cinematography by Alun Bollinger, and a remarkable performance by Fiona Kay as Toss. The death of the father and Ethan's arrival immediately create odd disturbances and sexual stirrings in Toss, especially after the tension between Ethan and Elizabeth blossoms into a full-blown affair -- and we can see her trying to deal with these new emotions as they crowd in on her. Innumerable movies have dealt with the theme of a young woman's coming of age, but director Vincent Ward and his young star have penetrated deep into their subject and mined something hauntingly unexpected. - Hal Hinson, Washington Post Internet Movie Database listing
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