Watch The Harvesters

"The Harvesters" is a thought-provoking South African film that explores themes of masculinity, tradition, and power dynamics. The movie, directed by Etienne Kallos, was released in 2018 and stars Brent Vermeulen, Alex van Dyk, and Juliana Venter in leading roles. The story is set in a conservative rural community in the Free State province of South Africa. The community is predominantly made up of white Afrikaans-speaking farmers, who strongly uphold their cultural and religious beliefs. The protagonist of the movie is Janno (Brent Vermeulen), a teenage boy who lives on a farm with his strict, overbearing father, Kobus (Alex van Dyk). Janno's life is centered around his family's farm, where he has to fulfill daily chores and grow into a responsible farmer, following his father's footsteps.

The entire community is involved in the "harvesting" of a group of young men, who were found living on a nearby farm. These men, who are initially viewed as strangers and outsiders, represent a threat to the established social order of the community. Janno becomes fascinated with one of the outsiders, a young man named Piet (Alex Cilliers), with whom he shares some personal but subtle moments.

As the story unfolds, Janno begins to question his place in the community and starts to challenge his father's authority. Kobus is a traditionalist who believes in preserving the cultural customs of their forefathers. He views Janno as weak and not fitting into the "tough" mold of his forefathers. On the other hand, Janno is curious about the rest of the world and questions the rigid gender roles that are enforced in his conservative community.

The dynamic between father and son becomes even more complicated when a woman, Maria (Juliana Venter), is brought in to help with the farm work. Maria's presence brings a new perspective to the community and becomes a catalyst for change. Her interaction with Janno also showcases a romantic interest that further drives the plot forward.

"The Harvesters" is a slow-burning drama that picks up its pace towards the end of the film. The movie is steeped in symbolism and metaphor, depicting the conflict between tradition and modernity, domesticity and wilderness, and submission and liberation. The themes are explored through the beautiful cinematography of Michal Englert, who uses the barren landscape of South Africa to create a sense of tension and foreboding.

The actors deliver exceptional performances, especially Brent Vermeulen in the lead role. He portrays Janno's emotional struggle with great subtlety and nuance, providing viewers with a relatable character to root for. Similarly, Alex van Dyk's powerful portrayal of Kobus is both intimidating and tragic. One feels the weight of his expectations bearing down on Janno but can also sympathize with Kobus' desire to uphold tradition.

In conclusion, "The Harvesters" is a poignant and engrossing movie that examines the nuances of power, identity, and societal norms within a traditionalist community. The movie is beautifully shot and acted, making it a must-watch for anyone interested in exploring the complexity of ethnic and cultural intersections in modern-day South Africa.

The Harvesters is a 2019 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.