The Divide

A movie done in black and white with almost poetic imagery. Great acting by Perry King, Bryan Kaplan and Sara Arrington.

I thought this was an old western, with it being in black and white, and being slow moving. It's about an old man losing his memory and haunted by old memories. A drifting cowboy comes by to help the old man and he realizes the old man is not all there sometimes. The cowboy calls the old man's daughter and tells her that her father is in a bad way. She brings her teen aged son and he learns about ranching. She's angry because there's unfinished business and she doesn't want to deal with it. This is what "The Divide" is about... cleaning up lose ends. I enjoyed this movie about old fashioned values.

To find a modern day movie filmed in black & white is so refreshing and unusual, but this one went one step further in presenting an art movie set in the far West.

The scenery was gorgeous--maybe Sonoma County since the opening credits simply said Northern Calif.

Yes, it was slow moving but rich in dialog, acting and plot. Director and star, Perry King, really reminded me of Richard Farnsworth--in voice and looks and even his acting essence. He was a joy to watch as his complicated character presented kindness, crankiness, and delusions due to dementia. It's a heart-warming story that sticks with you as so many people must deal with aging issues in family now.

Greetings again from the darkness. Those of us who were watching movies in the 1970's recall Perry King as one of the fresh-faced, hunky twenty-somethings in THE LORDS OF FLATBUSH (1974) ... along with Sylvester Stallone and Henry Winkler. Now, more than 40 years later, not only does Mr. King star as crusty old rancher Sam Kincaid, but he also directs his first feature film. The script is written by Jana F Brown, in what is also her first screenplay. Due to its setting, the film could be labeled as a western, but it's really a personal drama emphasizing the importance of family reconciliation.

Sam Kincaid (King) is an elderly rancher who lives on land that looks a great deal like the Lucas McCain ranch from the TV classic "The Rifleman". We first see Sam as he shares his philosophy of mending fences with his hired help. If you are curious, it has to do with knowing "why the holes are there". Luke (Bryan Kaplan) is the young ranch hand who must not only deal with the severe drought-plagued northern California climate of 1976, but also the past-their-prime tools and equipment. Presenting even more of a challenge is Sam himself.

Sam is suffering from Alzheimer's disease and his house is decorated with personal notes reminding him how the light switch works, or to perform some other menial task. A particularly pointed note on the phone states, "your daughter doesn't want to talk to you". Luke figures out the father and daughter had some kind of falling out, but he soon realizes Sam's disease is progressing pretty quickly. He tracks down daughter Sarah (Sara Arrington) and pleads with her to come visit her father.

As much as I enjoyed the banter between Sam and Luke, the film picks up a bit when Sarah and her son (Sam's unknown grandson) arrive. Family issues, secrets and skeletons in the closet make communication between these folks more than a tad uncomfortable at times. However, slowly we see the "fence" mending ... and Sam's early philosophy becomes crystal clear. Campfire-style music plays throughout much of the film, and Sam's repeated questions allow Luke, Sarah, and grandson CJ to comprehend what's happening and what needs to be done. Sam's recurring nightmare can only be stopped with a reconciliation that's painful for all involved. Perry King proves his effectiveness as an aged rancher, and also as a first time filmmaker. He and Ms. Brown deliver a nice message ... and the black and white photography serves the faces and setting quite well.

Slow moving like watching a mud hole dry up but worth the excellent b/w filming and interesting character / story development a message here delivered the old fashion way in bits and pieces a lesson here for us all in the great forgotten art of story telling - Amen