INTO THE FOREST
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS D: Patricia Rozema. Canada. 101 min. Sep 14, 2:15 pm TIFF Bell Lightbox 2. Rating: NNNN
Rozema proves herself to be master of mood in this story of sisters Nell and Eva (Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood, respectively) who try to survive at their home in a remote forest after a vaguely defined eco-disaster that’s caused a power outage.
Page and Wood are excellent as the siblings, whose personality differences – dancer Eva is the creative type, Nell has a much more practical streak – create various conflicts. You can sense, though, their powerful bond.
Rozema ratchets up the tension, never allowing the audience to relax entirely – a shocking violent incident is superbly shot – but credit, too, goes to cinematographer Daniel Grant, who has a short resume but immense talent and who make the movie look drop-dead gorgeous.
