The Harvesters

Set amid the expansive landscape of South Africa's agriculturally rich Free State region, the movie "The Harvesters" is an unconventional and intriguing exploration of identity, belonging, and the complexities of the human condition. This carefully crafted tale draws into the heart of a Mennonite discipline, unveiling a story that merges the deepest human emotions with a sociocultural vignettes.

Released in 2018, "The Harvesters" is beautifully brought to life under the vision of its Greek-French director, Etienne Kallos. Kallos skillfully paints profound themes within his anguishing storyline, shedding light on an often unseen rural landscape of South Africa and the Afrikaner community inhabiting it. His attention to detail brings forth an unrivaled authenticity to the foreground.

The narrative centres around the adolescent Janno, compellingly played by Brent Vermeulen. Janno is firmly rooted in his deeply religious, farming family's lifestyle - a lifestyle that revolves around values of hard work, piety, and simplicity, all under a Christian Afrikaner spiritual umbrella. His somewhat harmonious yet monotonous life, however, takes a dramatic turn as his family opens its door to an orphan, Pieter, played by Alex van Dyk, who embodies a character of rebellion and disorder.

Kallos skillfully depicts the tension between the two young men – Janno, compliant and devout, versus the newcomer Pieter, street-smart and unruly. As they try to navigate through their stark differences, they find themselves in a silent and growing rivalry born out of Pieter's uncanny ability to charm and win over their family. Both Vermeulen and van Dyk give arresting performances, masterfully capturing the evolving and often ambivalent dynamics of their relationship, making the audience invest emotionally in both characters.

Juliana Venter, as the devout matriarch of the family, brings heart-breaking subtlety and nuanced strength to her role, further fueling the tension and emotional stakes within the family. Her character represents the symbolic backbone of this tightly-knit clan, her faith being the core bonding element within the household.

While "The Harvesters" delves into the personal story of these characters, it never loses sight of its broader socio-political canvas. The film is much more than a family drama, serving also as a parable for the anxieties and cultural complexities present within the modern Afrikaner community. The gripping plot invites the audience to reflect on traditional family values, faith, individual identity, masculinity, and also subtle undercurrents of race and class tension.

The remarkable cinematography of Michal Englert amplifies the raw ruggedness of the arid Free State. The camera meticulously captures vast expanses of the land under diverse light palettes, adding a mesmerizing visual aesthetic to the narrative. The audience is greeted with countless wide, sweeping shots of the countryside, underscoring the deep rootedness of this family to their land, yet paradoxically, their increasing isolation, both among themselves and within the wider world.

The contemplative, minimalistic score of "The Harvesters", eloquently composed by Evgueni and Sacha Galperine, resonates with the film's stark atmosphere. It breathes soul into the barren landscapes, punctuates the tense stillness of certain scenes and builds on the emotional gravitas of the narrative.

"The Harvesters" demands attention and patience. Its thematic depth is cryptic at times but reveals the keen observation and intelligently crafted narrative of Kallos. Its power lies in its quietness, its slow-burn storytelling, and its intriguing characters, each struggling with their individual identity within the cultural confines they inhabit. It challenges its audience to confront socio-cultural complexities and uniquely portrays the universal search for belonging and acceptance.

In "The Harvesters", it is not about providing clear cut answers to the audience, but rather prompting them to question their own ideologies, prejudices, and belief systems. This slice of South African cinema is an invigorating emotional journey through the cornfields of life and identity and a must-see for anyone in search of intense, thought-provoking storytelling.