After the Harvest

Sam Shepard always turns in a superior performance, yet does so without overwhelming the story. I'll watch any movie he's ever made. Alberta Watson however was why I purchased the movie and her performance in this film was everything I expected. Nadia Litz did a knockout job as Jude, ditto Liane Balaban as Lind. Every character in the cast was perfectly chosen; there's not a false note or misstep anywhere in the film.

I enjoy watching this DVD every couple of months because it's a great character study that's well-filmed, historically accurate and quite beautifully filmed from beginning to end. The characters are strong, the performances are powerful, and yet understated, parallel story lines intersecting with a wallop at the end of the movie. Predictable? Probably. Cornball? Perhaps. It's still a good story, well told, and beautifully acted. Even though I've watched it umpteen times, the finale still manages to surprise me.

I have lived in a house like this one, filled with anger, abuse and tension. This film captures the mood of the house led by an abusive parent brilliantly. Kudos to a fantastic director and cast, and an excellent story. Thank-you for having the courage to tell it. The shots are beautiful, and the acting superb. Thank you Sam Sheppard for playing the role so brilliantly and thank-you to the cast for portraying a world which might not have been familiar to them but is so familiar to many families where the patriarch is the person to be trusted least. Against the fields of wheat, in an isolated world, all characters were afraid to fight. This is what really happens in these situations I am afraid, and this film brilliantly depicts the world of abuse...simply, and with such honestly that one who has lived through this world learns...and is reminded that it was "not OK" at all.

Why did I have to find this masterpiece in a bargain bin at Walmart? How come I never had heard of it? What a near perfect film this is. The plot and the performances are understated but gripping and underlaid with lurking menace. I remember once flying over the Canadian prairies discussing what dark and untold things happened in the isolation of the vast wheat fields below. This film reveals one such story. As wonderful as it is, the cinematography goes even beyond wonderful. Every scene is a delicately wrought masterpiece. EVERY scene. Gregory Middleton uses light and texture and framing better and more consistently than I think I've ever seen it used. This deserves far better than the bargain bin at Walmart! Rarely do I vote a ten. This is a big, powerful, boldface, underlined TEN!

"After the Harvest" is merely an extension of the well-worn concept detailing the need to rally against conservative tyranny. It's dull and predictable and Sam Shephard's domineering father is so extreme he's like a combination of Nurse Ratchet and John Lithgow's 'dancing is for the devil' dad from "Footloose". The film's only virtue is Liane Balaban's sensual beauty.

Bought this movie out of a $5.50 bin at WalMart, expecting it to be "so-so". Ended up liking it quite well! Although situations are predictable, the acting is good and the storyline moves along at a fast enough pace to keep you interested. Recommend!