Saturday, September 06, 2014
Down on the farm
Today's movie takes place on a semi-industial farm.
Some of the work is mechanized but there is still a place for farm hands to do the detail and finishing chores.
In Germany, farm workers are put through an apprenticeship program to learn about both machine and labor aspects.
Two young men at the same farm meet and become friends in
Stadt Land Fluss* / Harvest (2011)
They begin to spend more time together, hanging out after work. Walks through the fields. Trips to the river to swim. They exchange some shy looks.
They find a car on the farm that seems abandoned but still works. It is a great place to relax on breaks and in idle time. They get in the car one night and try to start it. It runs! They drive it off the farm and just keep rolling. They end up in Berlin 60 K away. Bright lights, big city.
They walk around and then sleep in the car. One thing leads to another. They "bond" in the back seat.
Nothing new in the plot except these are farm kids. Rare to see a rural gay situation in films even though a lot of gay fantasies run to farm hands and such!
The visuals are all bucolic. Beautifully rendered. Dawn, animals, lots of water. The soundscape is full of farm sounds. Sprinklers, cows, machines.
I love this film. It is a 5 out of Netflix5.
I have seen it several times and each time find something new. It is still very satisfying emotionally. Young love. Sweetly rendered.
*As often happens the translation of the title is weird. In German it is "City Country River" which is descriptive of where the two young men are able to be together. Maybe more apt.
