The Nightingale Movie Review
Director Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale is an absolutely brutal film. Seriously, if you are squeamish then you need to stay away. There are five rape scenes in this film. It is not the kind of movie where you eat popcorn and drink a soda. That being said, if you can stomach the violence and brutality, then this is an amazing film that you will not regret seeing.
The Nightingale is set in the 1800’s in Tasmania and follows the life of a young Irish convict, Clare (Aisling Franciosi). One horrendous thing after another happens to Clare. And when I say horrendous I mean it. I’ve not seen so many heinous things happen on one screen in a long time. There were some scenes I watched through my fingers. After a myriad of horrible things occur, she teams up with an Aboriginal tracker named Billy (Baykali Ganambarr) to hunt for a British officer through the brush of Tasmania. Billy comes with his own trauma at the hands of white men. At some level this helps to bond Clare and Billy together.
To her credit, Kent does not ever sugarcoat the relationship between Aboriginals and the white people who invaded their land. She puts it on display so there is no mistaking the violent and blood soaked history. Kent also showcases how hard it was to be a woman in the 1800’s. Add being a woman to the fact that Clare is a convict, and you have a recipe for disaster.
It’s honestly hard to talk about this movie without giving away major spoilers. But it’s a tale of revenge, hatred, and small random acts of kindness. It is carried largely by Franciosi, who puts in a powerhouse performance. If she isn’t nominated for every award this year I will be shocked. Ganambarr was also phenomenal, forcing you to intensely feel Billy’s pain and past traumas. The acting is truly gripping and pulls you into the story incredibly effectively. Kent successfully portrays the viciousness of people with a visceral film.
Movie or Film: Film
You’ll like this film if:
1. You can stomach heinous acts of violence
2. You like period pieces
3. You liked Jennifer Kent’s first film The Babadook
