Dark River (2017)

Following the death of her father, Alice (Ruth Wilson) returns to her home village for the first time in 15 years, to claim the tenancy to the family farm she believes is rightfully hers.

Director:

Clio Barnard

Writers:

Clio Barnard, Lila Rawlings (story development) (as Lila V. Rawlings)

Stars:

Ruth Wilson, Mark Stanley, Sean Bean

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Ruth Wilson	...	Alice
Mark Stanley	...	Joe Bell
Sean Bean	...	Richard Bell
Esme Creed-Miles	...	Young Alice
Aiden McCullough	...	Young Joe
Shane Attwooll	...	Tower
Steve Garti	...	Jim
Una McNulty	...	Susan Bell
Dean Andrews	...	Matty
Jonah Russell	...	Pete
Paul Roberson	...	Declan
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Billie	...	Billie
Olivia Brennan	...	Ellie
Ophelia Campbell	...	Alice Bell as a child in a photo
Alfie Charlesworth	...	Joe Bell as a child in a photo

Storyline

After receiving news of her father's death, Alice, a young travelling sheep-shearer, tentatively decides to return to the dilapidated family house of her childhood, in muddy North Yorkshire. Surprisingly, it's been already fifteen years since Alice left behind an ailing dad and her older brother, Joe, to wander about from farm to farm; however, this cold and heavy homecoming will be Alice's last chance to reclaim the land she believes was once promised to her. But, now, on one hand, there's Joe's resentment paired with a rancorous rivalry between siblings--while, on the other hand--fleeting mournful shadows of a troubled past permeate the walls of an imperfect prize. What will it take to keep the haunting memories at bay?

---

Plot Keywords:

brother sister relationship | farm | rural setting | haunted by the past | yorkshire | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 June 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

Karanlik Nehir

Filming Locations:

Northallerton Prison, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,246, 1 July 2018, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$7,714, 5 July 2018

Company Credits

Production Co:

BFI Film Fund, BFI's Film Found, British Film Institute (BFI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is very loosely based on Rose Tremain's novel Tresspass. Writer/director Clio Barnard wrote an initial screenplay that was much closer to the book, which focuses on two sets of of siblings in their sixties who become involved in a property dispute in France. After the initial draft her producers encouraged her to make the story her own so that the final film, which focuses on only one set of siblings in their thirties and is set in England is only very loosely related to the book.

---

Quotes

Alice: Wait.
[pause]
Alice: We should cut that field.
Joe Bell: I don't cut for silage. I leave it for hay.
Alice: They're all skin and bone.
[pause]
Joe Bell: Come here. I wanna show you summat.
[pause]
Joe Bell: It's shepherd's needle. You don't see it very often. Not round here, anyway. When it comes through its seed pods, they look like a needle. When you cut it for silage, all you end up doing is... killing everything that's under it. In one acre of hay meadow... you've got 400 million insects. 600 million mites. Two million spiders. Burnet ...
[...]

---

Soundtracks

An Acre of Land
Traditional British song
Adapted Harry Escott
Sung by P.J. Harvey

User Reviews

Superb characterisations give this poignant drama authenticity

I found the acting and writing of this drama compelling, nuanced, and thoughtful. Along with great cinematography of the beautiful yet harsh Yorkshire country, the story is given a real authentic edge. The pacing is what it is and appears not to be trying to hit the notes of a typical run of the mill Hollywood blockbuster. I found it worked brilliantly to create an ambience of the setting, and of the inter-personal tensions, which were convincing, realistic, and relatable. I was quite moved by the end, especially with the haunting vocals of PJ Harvey and her rendition of an old folk song