By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Phillip Youmans
Starring: Braelyn Kelly | Dominique McClellan | Karen Kaia Livers | Wendell Pierce
Country: united_states
Year: 2020
Running time: 77
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7358154/reference
Michael says: “A harsh look at poverty in rural Louisiana, with shadowy imagery, poetic narration, and wrongs suggested, but not seen create the tapestry that is BURNING CANE. The film opens with a woman telling the story of her faithful, beloved dog. The dog is suffering with mange, and no matter what remedy she tries — and the woman gets plenty of advice from those around here — nothing seems to work. When someone finally suggests she pray, she admits that she had been praying from the very first moment that dog started scratching in misery to no avail. That woman is Martha and she is one of three characters that BURNING CANE focuses on. The next is the local Pastor, who condemns the greed of material wealth in one breath, yet spends most of his time drinking whisky and weaving his way down the fortunately mostly empty roads. Whether the drinking is a result of the recent passing of his wife, or if it’s a longer habit than that is a mystery. Finally there is Daniel, Martha’s son, whose short-temper got him fired from his job, and now he too is drinking a little too much, and arguing with his wife. When those arguments cross a line Martha is forced to take action.