Director R.T. Thorne, sets his 40 Acres in a post-apocalyptic-near-future. In this world a mysterious plague has wiped out all animal life on Earth, causing an unprecedented global famine for a few surviving human beings, who have turned to cannibalism as their only means of survival.
In this funereal scenario, a family lives isolated on their farm , they’ve equipped it like a fort against aggressors, with barbed wire, surveillance cameras and an arsenal of weapons. They balance this military preparation with a homely lifestyle, in which they prepare their meals based on the crops they grow. The family has a matriarchal structure, since the charismatic leader is the mother-wife, Hailey Freeman (Danielle Deadwyler), supported by her loving husband Galen (Michael Greyeyes), as they protect their four children: Emanuel (Kataem O’Connor), Raine (Leenah Robinson), Danis (Jaeda LeBlanc), and Cookie (Haile Amare). The Freemans seem to manage their safety in an effective way, until Emanuel spots a girl, Dawn (Milcania Diaz-Rojas), on the other side of the fence. His desire to connect with someone his age leads him to take her on the farm, and find out she was sent her by her aunt, Augusta Taylor (Elizabeth Saunders). From that moment on, the controlled Freeman household will be set in chaos.
40 Acres had its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, and was named to TIFF’s annual Canada’s Top Ten list for that same year. It doesn’t surprise since it venturously shows how social collapse has pushed humanity back centuries, something we can all relate to nowadays.
This micro-society of the future, confronts devastation and pain, dealing with scarce resources, fending the ferocious attacks of predators. Todor Kobakov’s evocative music provides the necessary crepuscular atmosphere, with its electronic beats and dark undertones. Whilst, Jeremy Benning instills an esoteric cinematography, that enhances both the violent scenes, as much as the ones pertaining to the tranquil family routine. The screenplay written by R.T. Thorne and Glenn Taylor focuses on some significant themes of our time. The narrative denouement is not particularly stupefying, however it opens up to reflection on America’s history and present, in a dauntless and cogitative manner.
The Freemans are descendants of African American farmers who settled in 1875 in rural Canada after the first Civil War. Centuries later, they are trying to survive in a decimated future. Undoubtably the topic of settlers, colonialism, and displacement reverberate strongly. This has been ingeniously enhanced in a subtle way, since the father-figure Galen, just like the actor playing him (Michael Greyeyes), is Néhiyaw i.e. North American Indigenous. Thus, he speaks “the language of his ancestors” to his children, in order to pass on the native heritage and make sure it does’t get lost.
The Gun-control regulation is an issue that has been going on for ages in the United States, that is the biggest arms dealer on Earth. For decades, the stars-and-stripes nation garnered billions of dollars by selling weapons that were used for ethnic cleansings and genocides all over the globe. The United States is home to four of the five largest private arms companies in the world — Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, and Raytheon — and it not only profits by selling its weapons abroad, but encourages its citizens to use them. In fact, the Second Amendment of the US Constitution protects the right to keep and bear arms. This is something that is effectively reflected in 40 Acres, by showing not only how the adults nonchalantly handle weapons, but also train their children from a very young age to do the same, inculcating in their minds that their use is virtuous.
The brutality portrayed in the film serves also as a parable of the pandemic and warfare that our 21st century has traversed or is still confronting. Individualism annihilates collectivism. When lack of food and survival come into a picture, it’s an every man for himself situation. R.T. Thorne meets the urgency of the present, transforming a dystopian story into a profound reflection about the loss of Humaneness.
Several motion pictures — such as The Road, Children of Men or Leave the World Behind — have potently depicted society on the brink of collapse in a post-cataclysmic setting. 40 Acres takes the anthropological analysis a step further, through the moral ambiguity of the characters. Hailey is not an idealised heroine: she can be ruthless when needed, hardened by her previous experiences and the fear her children might be harmed.
In 40 Acres sense of protection becomes oppressive control, as Hailey keeps her offspring secluded, in a cage-like sheltered environment. Her son, longs to break free from these constrictions and this is when the the family balance begins to crumble. This generational confrontation opens up to the question whether it is right to sacrifice someone’s freedom for their safety and how trauma can misshape our concept of love.
Director R.T. Thorne, comes from the world of television series such as Utopia Falls and music videos. His film debut transpires visual artistry and skill in character building. In fact, spectators will ride an emotional rollercoaster, alternating empathy with judgement, as they observe the multifaceted reasoning of the characters — all brilliant brought to life by a prodigious cast.
40 Acres serves as a political metaphor, that will shake consciences, as it confronts survival, family heritage and the pursuit of enfranchisement.
Final Grade: B+
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Photo Credits: Magnolia Pictures