The Afterlight

The Afterlight, a 2009 independent drama film directed by Alexei Kaleina and Craig Macneill, follows the story of a young couple who move to an abandoned farm in rural upstate New York to set up a new life. Uprooting themselves from the busy city life, they intend to regain the peace and tranquillity of a simpler life. But instead, they find themselves confronting the ghosts of their past, both individually and as a couple.

The film opens with a series of shots of the desolate countryside, the abandoned farm on which the couple arrives in their old pickup truck, and the couple's introduction through their morning routine. Emily (Jicky Schnee) is a painter and seems to be the more adventurous and optimistic of the two, while Andrew (Michael Kelly) is quiet and contemplative - even slightly depressive. Through their interactions, it's evident that the couple's relationship is strained and in desperate need of healing.

Despite having the best of intentions, their new beginning is fraught with challenges, starting with the dilapidated state of their new home. The couple struggles to get the house up and running, but the ominous sense of isolation, depression, and loneliness presents a significant obstacle, both externally and internally. As the days progress, they begin to settle into their new lives, but the isolation and desolation start to affect their minds, and they begin to unravel.

The movie is slow-moving, introspective, and meditative, but also packs a disturbing sense of eeriness and unease throughout. As Emily spirals into a depressive state, Andrew struggles to keep his shattered emotional state hidden. The tension further intensifies when Emily insists that they should have a baby, believing that the new life can fix their relationship. But, when they realize that they are unable to conceive, their relationship hits a new low.

The couple's interactions with an old local gravekeeper (Rhoda Pauley) and a visiting woman named Andrea (Ana Asensio) subtly deepen the plot's complexity. The gravekeeper is a source of spirituality and wisdom, providing a foundation of groundedness that Emily and Andrew need, whereas Andrea's attractive and mysterious aura adds another layer to the couple's fragile relationship.

The Afterlight's setting and the cinematography play a pivotal role in presenting the narrative's intensity. The film's bleak and stark color scheme, overcast skies, and haunting score further emphasize the underlying foreboding feeling that something terrible is about to occur.

Throughout the movie, themes of coping with loss, isolation, and depression run deep. Kaleina and Macneill have achieved a beautiful balance of reflection, atmosphere, and nuance, putting the focus directly on the character's emotional dispositions, rather than on special effects or action. Subtly unsettling, the film slowly creeps up on you, leaving plenty of room for interpretation and reflection after the credits roll.

Overall, The Afterlight is a captivating character study of a couple's mental and emotional deterioration in isolation. A highly recommended watch for movie-goers who appreciate slow-moving films with a high level of introspection and somewhat eerie undertones.