Unfinished Sky is Port Fairy Film Society’s February screening this Friday 7.30pm.
A reclusive Queensland farmer finds a bruised and terrified Afghani woman on his property. With language and trauma as barriers to communication for her and emotional depth restricting his ability to act with compassion, trust is slow to develop. Meanwhile, the hotelier and the policeman are acting strangely.
First curious, then suspicious, and finally protective, the widowed farmer John (played by William McInnes) keeps Tahmeena’s existence a secret from those in the town that are asking questions. Details of their past emerge slowly, building tension as their relationship develops.
Actress Monic Hendrickx also played the equivalent character (though, interestingly, of Eastern European descent) in the 1998 Dutch film The Polish Bride, of which this film is a loose remake.
Unfinished Sky won six AFI awards and won favour with critics with its strong performances and tense drama.
“This combination of thriller and love story is most successful with the latter. The relationship between John and Tahmeena is developed beautifully and tentatively,” said Margaret Pomeratz of ABC1’s At the Movies.
Screening starts at 7.30pm. Memberships available at the door, tea and coffee provided.
