Kin

My suspicion is that this was an undergraduate film script project to write a fairy tale. But even fairy tales need some basis in fact. The lead, Anna, played by Australian actor Miranda Otto, appears to be a longtime local game warden who, incredibly, is unable to speak the language of the area's tribe and ignores basic survival steps ie. you never walk away from a broken-down vehicle in the desert. Her brother, the local priest, is a cardboard cutout racist and disappears from the movie altogether in the last 20 minutes. The plot holes are extraordinary. How Anna suddenly discoveres a cache of poached ivory in her friend's house is simply never explained, the same goes for the significance of the ceremony in the closing minutes of the film when the local tribe pour sand over her and just why an African-American lawyer is living in a small village in Namibia is utterly ignored, apart from a one scene while suggests he is looking for minerals. And the ignorance of the black/white divide in southern Africa makes the entire effort laughable.

There is plenty of action and drama in this film that moves from scene to scene, even moment to moment, living in that Gray Area where people's real lives really happen. Not a typical movie where the conflict grows out of black and white situations. Here, despite appearances, nothing is black and white. Every relationship is unique, and every relationship is made up of layers upon layers. Like real life, every day brings more contradictions and questions than it does answers-along with profoundly simple reasons to endure and celebrate.

(Oh, and it doesn't hurt that the lead actors are two of the most attractive people ever put on film, playing characters that we come to care about deeply.)

Overall this film I thought wasn't bad. It came out on Sky a while back, I taped it and just forgot where I put it. After watching Lord of The Rings, I then remembered it, so found it, and watched it.

The film is full of flaws...and if you#re a person who looks for flaws and likes films "perfect" then stay away from this one. The dialogue is nothing much to speak of and the story itself is a tad boring. BUT there are two things which I think holds this film together. The two performances by Miranda Otto and Isiah Washington (sorry about spelling) are very good. Otto proves herself in this film that she can handle leading roles, and breaths as much life into the brain-dead dialogue. Washington adds more of a relief to the serious story, and at times some humour. The second thing is the landscapes. I have been to South Africa 4 times, loving every trip and what I thought was the best in this film were the wide shots of landscapes etc.

I would advise you watch this film if you're: - A Otto or Washington fan. - Like Africa and animals. - Into small independent films that no one has heard of.

stay away from this film if you're: - Into "perfect" films. - Hate Otto or Washington - Want a decent story or interesting dialogue.

Overall 6/10...not bad, could have been better but good enough for a couple of hours.

This brilliant, visionary film nourishes while it entertains. I strongly recommend this film for emotional adults interested in Africa, wilderness, and learning how to love...better. At the London Film Festival screening the audience spoke with the director. One person said that she found the visual beauty of the settings almost a distraction from the elemental emotional journey at the heart of the film. Welcome to Africa...from the inside.