Florais an enticing film out of Canada pitting a group of college students against the wilds of western Canada in the spring of 1929. What makes this movie so enticing is the twist we are given in the theme of man versus nature. This is not your slasher thriller of the students running away from an enraged animal—they must make their way out of a forest that developed a mutation that kills all animal life.Florawas presented at the 2017 FilmQuest Film Festival. I wasn’t able to see the film at the screening, but was able to view it a few months later.
Setting
Being set at the end of the golden age of exploration allows this movie to develop in ways a modern, or futuristic setting would not allow. An isolated camp in the deep woods away from anything that would be considered civilized. The maps are not even complete, one section is marked unexplored territory. There is no emergency number they can call. The five people are on their own.
The look provided for the time setting is well done and ties in the score (more on that later) with the use of a Victrola wind up record player. There are some minor points I found could have been left out to remind us the when the movie is set without hurting the story. But, the minor distractions don’t take enough away from Florato seriously hurt the enjoyment of the look we are given to meet the setting
Plot
As mentioned, we are themed with man versus nature. This isn’t the brutality of death. Even the characters recognize this is a place of life not death, the life just happens to be only plants.
The writer /director, Sasha Louis Vukovic also gives are heroes a time bomb they have to deal with, they are short on food and they are not expecting any contact for weeks. Everything around them has the mutation and they are left to their knowledge to figure out how to get out of the “death zone” they are in.
Writing
Vukovik debuts with Flora, giving us a wonderful presentation. I look forward to seeing how he develops with later stories.
This is where I felt one of the shortcoming of the film held it back from knocking it out of the park. I felt there was more backstory that could have been shared. I’m not talking about having characters get up and monologue, I was looking for more tidbits of what each of the characters had gone through to get them where they are. There are a couple of points about the limitations of what the two women were going through. And, there were hints that they have varied backgrounds. However, the characters could have had much more depth with a few well-placed comments.There is some great foreshadowing throughout the movie. I don’t want to tell you what it is because I enjoy seeing how those mechanics unfold in a story, not being told to look for specifics. Just be aware that the writing is complex and enjoyable. I will say that even the opening scene with Morse code being used sets for future events.
Acting
Characters fit the period. Along with looking the parts each character fit the time with their language and the performances by the actors pulled in many of the historical and stereotypical beliefs of the time. We are presented with a group of young adults at the end of the roaring 20s. We are given the culture clash of what they know and what they believe. There are the great adventures they know about and they see themselves embarking on the same grand plan.
Music and Sound
The music hits a home run in Flora. From the use of the Victrola early on to present the time to the end of the movie, music moves the story forward. Nathan Prillaman does a great job.
The placement of changes in musical style and instrument selection provide a backdrop of sound that is craftily used in Flora. Early in the movie the music is light and shows the feeling of grand adventure, the golden age has been delivered to the waiting hands of those who are ready to grab ahold of the world and shake it. As the movie progresses the music carries the theme. Slipping into more “darker” and rudimentary rhythms to drag along the audience as the world shakes back.There is another part of the soundtrack that impressed me. The forest is alive without animals and the editing of sound and visual is done to ensure those background sounds and sights are eerily absent.
Overall
Florais a thoughtful thriller twisting an old theme. The horror is in the mind of dealing with a situation that cannot be defeated. We are placed in the forest where it is not about overcoming or conquering, but escaping to survive. To only survive. Some scenes are a little long and some are not needed. The story is solid and leaves you wondering if you might have the stamina to make it.
Florahas been on the festival circuit.
I give Flora3 ½ out of 5.
Additional Information
2017 Canada
Writer and Director: Sasha Louis Vukovic
Stars: Teresa Marie Doran, Sari Mercer, Miles G. Jackson, Dan Lin, Caleb Noel,
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