Seclusion exacts a horrible toll in writer/director Rebecca Rose’s short film Wake. A family faces unimaginable heartbreak in the muddy landscape of the British countryside when a family suicide, leaves Grace (Alison Steadman), Hannah (Louisa Clein), and Josh (Stuart Campbell) to cope with the aftermath. The bereaved relatives, especially Josh, struggle to move forward with their everyday lives while maintaining the family property.
Rose and Director of Photography Rob Hart make brilliant use out of the country setting. The rolling hills and foreboding skies are characters in their own right, dwarfing anyone who ventures outside of the farmstead. Hannah scales the unforgiving terrain, screaming at the top of her lungs, yet her presence feels almost weightless against it. This form of visual reinforcement only adds to the film’s staying power, hammering home how deep in sorrow all involved are.
Likewise, the portrayal of this particular loss feels impactful, as evidenced by just how hard everybody tries to repress their emotions. Hesitance has no comfort to offer, as the bereaved women of the farm choose to suffer in private, cushioning Josh’s fragile mental state. It’s almost as if nobody is willing to accept the gravity of the situation. This is where the film finds its best moments. Grief gradually corners the family, leaving them no choice but to eventually give into it. Rose’s screenplay handles this transition superbly, using Josh’s perspective as the focal point of her story.
Stuart Campbell excels in his role as Josh, exercising self-control when necessary to intensify his outbursts. Clein is also a standout as his mother, channeling every moment with Josh to devastating effect.
Atmospherically stunning and exquisitely acted, Rebecca Rose’s Wake explores profound themes of suicide in rural communities.