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?

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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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

This film has three actors from the award winning series Game of Thrones (2011). These and their respective characters include Sean Bean (Ned Stark), Mark Stanley (Grenn) and Joe Dempsie (Gendry).

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Quotes

[Last Lines]
Alice: Can I come and see you again? Can I?
Joe Bell: Yeah.

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Relentlessly Bleak

There's no question Ruth Wilson has superb charisma on screen and her co-star Mark Stanley is excellent as well, but this film gives the viewer, in my opinion, little room to "come up for air", as the storyline is just relentlessly dark and bleak. I thought the writer and director here Clio Bernard's 2013 movie The Selfish Giant was powerful and memorable, but her latest film is just too muddled and depressing for my tastes.