The world of rural cinema is undergoing a transformation, with a new wave of films that are more sympathetic to the lives and struggles of country folk. This shift is marked by a heightened awareness of the complexities and conflicts that arise in the countryside, particularly in the 21st century. The documentary "The Shepherd and the Bear" is a prime example of this new breed of films, depicting the reintroduction of the brown bear in the Pyrenees and the impact it has on the local community. The film explores the tension between tradition and modernity, and the challenges faced by rural communities in the face of change.
This new wave of rural cinema is not limited to France. In Spain, the crime thriller "The Beasts" depicts a windfarm vetoed by French arrivistes, causing a meltdown in the local community. In Catalonia, the delicate drama "Alcarrás" tells the story of peach groves being uprooted for solar panels. In Italy, the epic "The Eight Mountains" explores the return of a Turin prodigal son to the Aosta valley, highlighting the divide between town and country.
The return of urbanites to the land, a cohort the French call les néoruraux, is a growing phenomenon that is shaping the landscape of rural cinema. Filmmakers like Francis Lee, who directed "God's Own Country," and Louise Courvoisier, who made "Holy Cow," bring personal experiences to their work, bridging the gap between the city and the countryside.
However, the old ways still persist in some quarters, and the demonization of queer rural folk is still an easy win for some filmmakers. The acceleration of folk-horror in the UK, from its beginnings in the 1960s to the glut of recent years, is a testament to the dark fascination of the urban imagination with the unknown.
Despite the tensions between rural old-timers and urban wantaways, traditional methods and modern eco directives, the new wave of rural cinema is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of country folk. It is a reminder that the countryside is not just a backdrop for stories, but a living, breathing community with its own unique challenges and triumphs.
