BELLBIRD

New Zealand, 2019, 96 minutes, Colour.
Marshall Napier, Cohen Holloway, Annie Whittle, Rachel House, Stephen Tamarap, Kahukura Retimana.
Directed by Hamish Bennett.

Bellbird is a quiet, gently story of rural New Zealand. It is set in farming locations, the fields, the crops, the large herd, the milking, the calving period.

At the centre is an ageing farmer, Ross, played by veteran New Zealand actor Marshall Napier. He is a combination of the taciturn and the laconic. He is devoted to his wife, helping her with sudokus! She is cheerful, helps with the work and is a singer. However, sadly, she dies.

Also at the centre is their son Bruce, played effectively as a decent man by Cohen Holloway. He works at a recycling centre, sorting machines and other materials, often fixing them and selling them. The centre is run by Connie, a genial type. However, Bruce continues to help his father, cycling from one job to another, his father eventually thinking that Bruce should take over but Bruce rather reluctant, especially effective in a scene with a vet where they discuss how to test the insides of the cow.

Also on hand is the young lad, Marley, not too good at school but certainly energetic in helping Ross with his work.

There are some moments of tension. However, it is glimpse of life in rural New Zealand, with a gentle humanity. It is the first film by writer-director Hamish Bennett.

1. A glimpse of New Zealand rural life? The farms, crops, the herd of cows, milking? The home? The recycle shop? The market, the fair? The musical score?

2. The locations, seasons, beauty?

3. The portrait of Ross and his family? His age, experience, setting up the farm? His courtship of his wife, her eventual consent? Their life together? Work, milking, meals, the sudokus, her singing? Her death and its impact? His grief? A taciturn man?

4. Bruce, age, bond with his father, a decent man, his work with the recycling, his creations and sales, friendship with Connie? His working on the farm, his father relying on him? The scene with the vet, his wariness about exploring the insides of the cow, apprehension about blood? Mending fences? Doing the milking and cleaning? Cooking, meals with his father? Cycling back and forth?

5. Marley, local lad, his mother and young sister, their wanting him out of the house? His offer of help? Ross taking him on, his good work? His music, at home, seeing the cow, trying to rescue it, the death of the cow? His being invited into shared meals, the barbecue?

6. Connie, a shop, reliant on Bruce, the graffiti and her rude comment? Looking after her mother, conversations with Ross? Her ex turning up and Bruce fighting him? The barbecue? The relationship with Bruce?

7. The visitors to the recycling shop, the sales? Graham and his brutality? Anthony and his insults?

8. The advisors for the farm, Bruce not wanting the sale to them?

9. Ross, time passing, the return of his work, the discussions about his health, feeling sore, giving up the farm, Bruce taking over? The short time span? Bruce apprehensive?

10. The issue of the gravestone, Ross putting it off, Bruce and his sales, buying the stone, its appearance, the team working to install it? Everybody involved?

11. The film closing – but audiences wondering what Ross would do, how Bruce would cope? Connie’s involvement? Marley’s involvement?