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The Woman In Black

Packed with atmosphere, this old-fashioned but deftly told ghost story delivers ample chills and thrills.

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Belladonna (Film)

by Annette Basile | November 15, 2010 11:56 | Edited November 15, 2010 12:57

While the interconnecting narrative becomes predictable, this remains intriguing.

Fluidly moving back and forth between medieval Europe and contemporary Australia, this tale of romance and reincarnation has a few flaws, yet it's deeply intriguing and highly watchable. Luke (Todd MacDonald, The Jammed) is a doctor in modern day Melbourne, talking marriage with long-term love, Katherine (Kate Kendall, TV's Stingers). Back through time, a much darker story begins to unfold, with a brutal husband (Daryl Pellizzer) located at one point of a bizarre medieval love triangle. It's obvious that these dual narratives will connect, but it's in the connection that Belladonna becomes more predictable than it thinks it is.

The first Polish-Australian co-production, Belladonna is nicely shot, with the medieval countryside atmospheric and mysterious with its lush greens - these segments feel like they've been unearthed from some lost sixties European film. The visual style is sustained in the present day, and leads McDonald and Kendall put in fine performances, especially Kendall in the more challenging role as the unravelling Katherine. While McDonald is excellent, there are problems with the way that his character has been written. He's a GP, and although he mixes alternative with western medicine, his medical actions are still sometimes unrealistic (giving Rescue Remedy as a first treatment to a man who's collapsed stretches it).

 

But Luke and Katherine's relationship is real and relatable, and the final scene is so movingly poetic that Belladonna is easily forgiven for any imperfections. It's thought-provoking and says something about the nature of romantic love.

 

In her first feature, Polish-Australian filmmaker Glac perhaps needed to hone the undeniably good plot, but Belladonna is also a debut loaded with promise from a director with an original voice.