Screen doyenne Charlotte Rampling anchors this sensitive New Zealand family drama set in the early 90s.
George Ferrier stars as Sam, a teenager struggling with his mental health who isn't happy when he comes home from boarding school for the holidays to find his widower father (Kiwi acting legend Martin Csokas) heading overseas, leaving Sam stuck with his estranged grandmother Ruth (Rampling), a gin-swilling firebrand with a leg injury.
Sam and Ruth come to blows, but Ruth informs Sam that if he keeps her supplied with gin, things will go just fine. Despite their initial friction, Sam and Ruth will eventually teach each other some important lessons.
If that all sounds a little predictable or familiar, that is because this film is often both of those things. Not to a degree that derails the movie, but this walks a well-trodden path.
That said, the New Zealand setting offers a notable point of difference, and the actors have a pleasing chemistry that keeps things real.
Rampling, an English staple of European cinema soon to be seen in Dune, effortlessly enlivens Ruth, a war photographer facing some more grounded peril in her later years. Ferrier is at his best when acting opposite Rampling, and it's nice to see Csokas, who usually plays sneering villains, as a well-intentioned, if distant, solo dad.
This is clearly a very personal story for writer/director Matthew Saville – the authenticity of the environment shines through and each character is given the kind of thoughtful texturing that can only come from having lived through an experience like this. Plus the film should be applauded for being willing to tackle the issue of youth suicide, an uncomfortable topic that doesn't drag down the tone.
And there's undeniable power in the emotional finalé, which leaves a lasting impression.
Cast: Charlotte Rampling, George Ferrier, Martin Csokas
Director: Matthew Saville
Running time: 94 minutes
Rating: M (Violence, offensive language, drug use & deals with suicide)
Verdict: A familiar tale told with earnest conviction
Juniper is currently in theatres outside Auckland.