Vigil

Made by first-time director Vincent Ward, when he was 27, this strange, and beautifully photographed, mood piece is set in the misty mountains of New Zealand. The story is seen through the eyes of 11-year-old Toss (Fiona Kay), who loses her father as the film opens, and then watches as a stranger worms his way into her bitter mother's bed. Comic relief is provided by Toss' grandfather (Bill Kerr), who is a dedicated, but mostly unsuccessful, tinkerer. He takes a shine to the stranger--which further alienates Toss, and the viewer is privy to her vengeful fantasies and bizarre visions in the face of so much emotional and psychological stress. Vigil is not going to be a popular film--its images alternate between disturbing and mystifying. But Kay is splendid in the role of Toss, and the film works quite well within the framework it establishes: a young girl witnessing life, half-understood. And if we occasionally share Toss' confusion (since the film doesn't explain all of the images it presents), that's alright too. Part mystery, part coming-of-age movie, and all visual feast, Vigil is highly recommended. (R. Pitman) [Blu-ray Review—June 26, 2018—Arrow, 90 min., not rated, Blu-ray: $39.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1984’s Vigil features an excellent transfer with uncompressed mono audio. Extras include an appreciation by film critic Nick Roddick (14 min.), a 1983 on-set report from the New Zealand TV show Country Calendar (14 min.), an excerpt on 'NZ Cinema: The Past Decade' from the 1987 Kaleidoscope TV documentary (8 min.), and a booklet. Bottom line: filmmaker Ward’s first feature film makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]