This dark, violent life-future family drama is actually hopeful

40 acres
Starts at the Freeman farm. An assault on the farm and its occupants is about to happen, but a small, formidable group manages to stop the assailants and ensure they never return. Here, we meet Hailey (Danielle Deadwyler), a former soldier who has trained her family, which includes her partner Galen (Michael Greyeyes) and their four children, the oldest of whom is her son Emmanuel (Kaytem O’Connor). The Freemans hold fast to their values, protecting their land, training to survive, and never forgetting their respective history as a blended black and indigenous family.

The film by writer-director RT Thorne takes place in the near future, when the decimation of animals disrupts the food chain and food younggate drives humanity. Farmland is now the highest commodity one can own. So the stakes are incredibly high for the Freemans, especially for Hailey, who firmly understands how integral it is that she and her family protect their property and, by extension, their lives.

40 Acres features a stunning Danielle Deadwyler

The rest of the film’s cast is excellent and have great chemistry

Danielle Deadwyler is a force to be reckoned with here as she plays the strong, honest, no nonsense soldier. She has no time to waste; We know that from the hard edge in Deadwiller’s voice, efficient movements, and steely gaze. She’s always on high alert, and you know so intimately what, even before Thorne pulls back the curtain to give us Hailey’s latest story, what drives her to be who she is today.

The script and Deadwyler’s performance give us enough to confirm that Hailey sees everything through the lens of the black experience. However, the most palpable motive is her desire to do her best as a mother who protects her family. I don’t see how anyone else could play the role as Deadwiler; She does not reject Hailey’s tenderness and affection for her family. This is not the stereotypical “strong female character” – she is multifaceted.

40 acres‘ Ensemble is excellent, the chemistry is palpable, and the characters are easy to root for. Michael Greyeyes plays a character exclusively designed to showcase his vibrant personality. Unlike Hailey, Galen is a relaxed more relaxed, almost amused by how things are going. A central theme in Greyeyes’ work was to show the integrity of indigenous stories, so it is heartening to have Galen express his desire to convey his ancestors’ language and their way of life, especially in a reality where humanity is challenged.

40 Acres Deals with a Tough Story (But It’s Never Too Heavy)

Although the film has some pretty difficult scenes and subjects, it’s also fun. The opening sequence is exciting; Many humorous moments add levity to the difficult situation. The characters have great chemistry, and even though the younger cast members are a touch green, their enthusiasm for the project shines through. There are many stunning moments where we really vibe with the image. A good sign that I loved 40 acres Is that I thought it might be a TV show. I wanted to stay with these characters and the world they inhabited.

The story primarily revolves around Hailey’s relationship with her son Manny, who has a coming-of-age moment that puts him at odds with Hailey’s strict rules. I appreciate that the film is family-focused because it is one of the movie’s greatest strengths. There is an impending danger to the Freeman farm. However, instead of wasting time building this thread, creating a contrast with the Freemans to build some moral epic of good versus evil, Thorne opts for a more intimate tale against the backdrop of this violent encounter.

40 acres is a tough family drama with social commentary and action. Tran understands how to balance contemporary themes of black and indigenous identity in a colonial space, the concept of reclamation and defense of ancestral land. History rears its ugly head again, but with the historically marginalized in the defensive position on their respective farmland, it was an exciting concept to digest. Ultimately, the film has some heartwarming moments and themes, and although dark and violent, it is, in the end, an uplifting story about family, legacy and hope.

40 acres Had its premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. The film is 108 minutes long and not yet rated.