Watch Vigil

In the 1984 movie Vigil, we follow the story of a young girl named Toss. Toss has grown up in a remote sheep farm in New Zealand with her father and grandfather. One day, her grandfather passes away, leaving her alone with her father Ethan, who is emotionally distant and withdrawn. In the aftermath of her grandfather's death, Toss becomes obsessed with death and the afterlife, and starts to see her grandfather's ghost.

At the same time, a man named George arrives at the farm looking for work. He is hired by Ethan, but his presence causes tension in the household. George is a city slicker who is interested in jazz and poetry, and Toss is drawn to his cosmopolitan charm. However, Ethan sees him as a threat to his traditional way of life and starts to resent him.

As Toss's obsession with death grows, she starts to spend more and more time alone in the wilderness, searching for meaning and closure. At the same time, she begins to question her relationship with her father and his harsh way of life. Her world is turned upside down when she witnesses a violent act that forces her to confront the darkness within her family and herself.

The movie Vigil is a powerful exploration of family dynamics, grief, and the search for meaning. It is beautifully filmed in the rugged New Zealand countryside, and the performances by the cast are stunning. Penelope Stewart, who plays Toss, is especially noteworthy, bringing a sensitivity and depth to her performance that captures the sadness and confusion of adolescence.

One of the most striking aspects of Vigil is its use of symbolism and metaphor to explore its themes. The sheep farm becomes a microcosm of the wider world, with the sheep representing the power structures, the patriarchal society, and the cycle of life and death. Toss's obsession with death and the afterlife is a powerful metaphor for the search for meaning and the fear of mortality, while her grandfather's ghost represents the past and the traditions that have been lost.

The movie also explores the tension between urban and rural identities in New Zealand society. George represents the cosmopolitan, cultured city life that is seen as a threat to the traditional way of life on the farm. His interest in poetry and jazz is contrasted with the rugged, hardworking lifestyle of the farmers, creating a tension that mirrors the wider social tensions in New Zealand.

Overall, Vigil is a haunting, poetic movie that lingers long after the credits have rolled. Its themes are universal and timeless, and its exploration of family dynamics and grief is both powerful and poignant. It is a must-see for anyone interested in art-house cinema and New Zealand film.

Vigil is a 1986 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.