Burning Cane

Slow-burn wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't repetitive - there's barely any narrative and slice of life portrayal of depressing squalor quickly grows thin. Smoking, drinking and monotonous sermons are atmospheric and naturalistic, which would be a welcome addition to some story, but there is none. Hopefully the young director will build upon this achievement and not get stuck in more of the same.

I absolutely loved this movie. Very well done. I felt left hanging at the finale, however. Can anyone tell me who Helen shot at the end? It's driving me crazy'

"You will never be truly happy and fulfilled if you try to hang on to possessions." Reverend Tillman (Wendell Pierce)

You can almost smell the cane burning in Phillip Youmans' Burning Cane on Netflix. Such is the synesthetic cinematic experience that every word and every image carry weight on the sense and sensibility not ordinarily given to short films. While we can easily rely on the meaning of the pastor's familiar intonation, the demanding drama will depict lives looking for meaning not in possessions.

The isolation characters feel and their lack of trust in God and each other form the dramatic foundation of this still beautiful and memorable film as homily. This brooding tone poem briefly lets you into the personal lives of deeply spiritual and flawed folks in the cane fields of rural Louisiana.

Tillman struggles with the depression of being a recent widower, and the demon bottle helps little. Just the same with Daniel (Dominique McClellan), only he's a job widower, who listens little to mother Helen (Karen Kaia Livers), who listens to the Lord through the Bible. He is indeed her Shepard.

Not always bound to the dreamy world of worship, Helen reminds Daniel that his father died of AIDS. Besides the poetic qualities of this drama is the reality of life in general and rural poverty in particular. Youmans' camera lingers in the passageways and corners to let you live with these complicated characters, never imposing anything more that deeply-felt emotion sometimes embodied in gospel tunes or in simple dialogue that says much more than it is.

Writer, director, cinematographer, and editor Philip Youmans won Best Narrative feature at the Tribeca Film Festival 2019 as well as Best Cinematography. Pierce won best actor. In other words, this well-pedigreed first feature from Youmans is worth your 77 min, for it embraces small lives with feeling. An enjoyable emotional experience.

BTW, Youmans was 19 when he launched this gem, a senior in high school.

Burning Cane - I have followed this movie ever since Ava DuVernay (director of When They See Us / Selma) mentioned it on her Instagram. Her company Array Now would inevitable distribute it on Netflix, who Ava has sustained a good working relationship with.

The film has been successfully screening both in the US and UK and has mostly mixed reviews. However, being a fan of independent films, I found this film to be quite intriguing. I found its characters relatable to most families today. I found its subject matter to be quite profound. Althought, at times, different decisions could have been made with the placement of the camera, it is the humble beginnings of a director who is bound to go far.

The films director, a 19 year old Phillip Youmans demonstrates his ability to tell a story without the need for flashy cars and over the top CGI.. The film is anything but that. It is a simple story at heart. Youmans also shows his ability to make a movie without the need of a major studio backing him, although this is where he is headed next.

After winning the top prize at the Tribeca film festival, many people came out with mixed feelings for the film. Many even went as far as to say the film is boring and amateurish. I however, disagree. If you're interested in how a story can be and should be told, then you'll enjoy this. If not, im sure theres a screening of some franchise film playing somewhere you can waste your money on.

Independent film, at its core is about human emotion, disasters, pain, grief, suffering, loss, happiness and love. Youmans showcases this in his film BURNING CANE.

The reason for my score is purely based on Youmans decisions for camera placement and at times, a fluctuating audio level.

A solid effort from a director who is about to become noticed.

A very slow moving movie, the hand held camera shots gave it a home-made feel but this style was delivered at the expense of any substance. With a drunk pastor, lots of drinking and smoking, you wondered just what message it was aiming to deliver. Fortunately the Blues backing soundtrack and the gospel singing was great. Not enough to save the movie that was in the end, just a little dull.