The Price of Milk

The Price of Milk (2000) is an enchanting New Zealand romantic fantasy film set against the beautiful rural landscape of the nation. The film boasts a strong ensemble cast, with Danielle Cormack, Karl Urban, and Willa O'Neill delivering enthralling performances.

The plot follows Rob (Karl Urban), a humble dairy farmer, and his fiancee, Lucinda (Danielle Cormack), an aspiring violinist, living a dreamy, contented life in their quaint rural farmhouse, surrounded by their herd of cows. They're madly in love, eagerly anticipating their marriage, cradled by the comfort of their romantic liaison amid the verdant, rolling hills of the New Zealand countryside.

However, the true essence of this quirky story lies in Lucinda's growing insecurities and the determination to test their love. With the wedding approaching, she becomes fearful about their happily-ever-after being too perfect to be true. It spurs her on to create conflicts, absurd tests, to see if their love can endure - a charming offbeat approach that underlines the entire narrative.

Danielle Cormack and Karl Urban, New Zealand's acclaimed actors, breathe life into their characters with brilliant performances. Their on-screen chemistry is incredibly natural and heartwarming, capturing the authentic essence of true love. Within this fascinating dynamic, Lucinda's best friend, Drosophilia (Willa O'Neill), adds an enriching layer to the narrative with her vibrant personality and sage advice.

As Luciana’s actions spiral out of control, the plot resolves into a fable-like journey, complete with a scheming Maori Aunties duo, a mobile fridge, and a quilt with magical powers, connecting the dots between love, unhappiness, and chaos. The cows here, an essential asset to Rob's life and the couple's shared affection, play an intriguing role, subtly personifying Lucinda's happiness.

Director Harry Sinclair’s storytelling is markedly imaginative, presenting everyday mundanity with a touch of fantasy, creating a whimsical world out of ordinary rural life. The plot intricacies are carefully woven with a sense of comedic charm and light-hearted humor keeping the mood upbeat, perfect for a casual watch that still stimulates thought and introspection.

Notably, The Price of Milk beautifully utilises its New Zealand setting. The gorgeous landscapes become almost an important character in the film, adding a visually stunning aesthetic to the cinematic experience. The lush green fields, the country roads lined with towering trees, the peaceful ambiance all work in consonance to lend the film a fairy-tale-like quality.

Enhancing this is the wonderful music from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Wellington Sinfonia, accompanying the soft, magical tone of the film narrative. This score serves as a perfect backdrop to the increasingly surreal events unfurling in Rob and Lucinda's life.

The Price of Milk is a fantastic blend of love, comedy, and a shade of eccentricity that mingles into a uniquely delightful narrative. It’s a film that highlights the universal theme of love and happiness and that impulsive decisions driven by fear and insecurities can lead to heartache and chaos.

At its heart, The Price of Milk is akin to a fanciful fairytale that takes you on an extraordinary journey, instigating a sense of comfort and warmth. It’s a film where you can witness love walking through chaos reaching towards resolution, discovering its true strength.

Undeniably, Harry Sinclair's The Price of Milk is a fresh breeze in the often formulaic genre of romantic films, a testament to the compelling magic realism in New Zealand’s cinematic landscape.