Film Review – Flatland (2019)

An acute sense of mystery and Intrigue hit from the outset continuing to an amped level throughout.

Modern western thriller following the fascinating journey of three woman and their separate arcs that fuse together on a somewhat wild South African road trip.

The third feature from sublime auteur, Jenna Cato Bass, integrates gender and racial politics whilst establishing trust, honour, friendship in equal doses.

Leading the way in a remarkable performance, Nicole Fortuin as Natalie, a girl we meet as the bride at a forced marriage to a weird, policeman. Thankfully she escapes his clutches, temporarily.

A murder has been committed and Natalie has been blamed.

Seeking out friend Poppie (Izel Bezuidenhout) heavily pregnant, but carefree and happy to run away from reality into the arms of her corrupt trucker lover, taking Natalie with her.

On their trail, Captain Beauty Cuba (Faith Baloyi) has emotional conflict of her own with her partner innocently imprisoned but she tracks Natalie and Poppie into some off the radar seedy truck stop zones. Nicole Fortuin is integral here as Natalie, award worthy.

Spoken partly traditional Afrikaans language, Flatland, is powerful, disturbing and enlightening, solid, unique naturally independent filmmaking by Bass, in real locations, with a trio of extraordinary performances and fresh takes on seriously awful cultural faultlines.

★★★

Western, World Cinema | South Africa, 2019 | 15 | Digital HD | 23rd August 2021 (UK) | Bohemia Media | Dir.Jenna Cato Bass | Izel Bezuidenhout, Nicole Fortuin, Faith Baloyi

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