I watched this film back in 2019 at CIFF, but I've thought about it a number of times since.
The film follows a rural dairy farmer, Ross, who, after his wife dies, struggles to maintain life as usual and communicate properly and meaningfully not only with his adult son Bruce, but members of his local community. The narrative sort of flows in a stream of consciousness sort of way and the story takes place over the course of 4 seasons.
It makes sense then that the slow, methodical realities of farming life are replicated in the film's style and technique usage. The pacing of the film is quite slow, and editor Jason Pengelley's result would best be described as unhurried and graceful. Instead of dissolves or otherwise to hint at the passage of time in the film, the viewer is given long, beautiful landscape shots of the environment or rather elements in the environment such as cows grazing or wandering, or perhaps rain pouring from a gutter. The recurring ukulele meanders and grows in confidence and melody as the tone demands.
Cinematographer Grant McKinnon has done nothing short of incredible work in this production. Every frame is indeed a work of art and the sheer perfection of his shots works very well with the pacing of the film: the viewer has plenty of time to scour the frame and become immersed in the environment. McKinnon's work parallels the natural environment in an unyielding but also graceful way. The camera does not shy away when a character cries, but instead gives him space. The editor is not afraid to show awkward dialogue situations or show the aimless and devastated face of Ross as he sits alone in his kitchen or on a bench with Bruce. McKinnon's natural framing ultimately aligns with the natural world he's capturing and heightens viewer immersion.
The filmmakers approached their subjects-loss, family, and community with tremendous respect and graciousness. Bennett doesn't try to glorify or exalt the plights of rural farming simplicity, but instead develops a very human story in such an environment. In his accuracy and faithfulness to reality, he respects farming and that broader community. He doesn't shelter the viewer with falsehoods, but instead presents reality--and in his honesty and respect for the humanity of these people, elevates them in this way; he doesn't hide the grotesque and often frankly nasty duties of farm life-whether it be the birthing of calves or cleaning cow feces in the farm. What makes Bellbird special, and what I didn't appreciate until later, is its subtleties and gentleness. The film deals with heavy, emotional topics, in a placid, layered, but ultimately understated way. The complex emotional struggles of Ross aren't shoved down the viewer's throat, but are instead painfully applied in the long shots we see of Ross alone in the kitchen-a mirror shot to earlier when his wife accompanied him.
Excellent film, please go and watch it.
