My Feral Heart

Tuesday, 28 March 2017, 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm

2016, UK, 83 minutes, (12A)
Director – Jane Gull

Luke, an independent young man with Down’s syndrome stumbles upon a wild and life changing friendship.

Preceded by presentation of the work of photographer Richard Jones with his new project Energy & Notion. Coal mines to turbines: how energy shapes the Welsh landscape – in pictures.

TRAILER:

LINKS:
IMDb – My Feral Heart
Rotten Tomatoes – My Feral Heart
Official Website – My Feral Heart

AUDIENCE SCORE – 66%

COMMENTS:

  • Despite a very good performance by the leading actor, I feel this film was ‘worthy’ rather than anything else, and just seemed to run out of ideas
  • Strange casting with so many different accents and whilst I don’t wish to be spoon fed a plot there were just too many unanswered questions
  • One of those films im glad ive seen , but , at times questioned why I was here! Strangely enigmatic
  • Too many close up natural plant shots. Excellent acting. Brave theme. What was feral girl’s back story? Wish I was able to be here pm to discuss
  • Absolutely loved it . would have been one of my favourites of the season if not for the abrupt ending
  • More questions than answers
  • Charming characterisation and scenery/music – some relationships left unexplained and unexplored still at the end
  • A touching story well acted
  • Very moving film but the abrupt ending was a let down. It needed a longer running time
  • Absolutely brilliant
  • Very moving film. Poignant with me and my son. Couldn’t quite understand where the ‘wild’ girl fitted in and a strange ending. I did feel a bit angry that Luke ended up in a home as he was quite independent.

The producer has come back with some explanatory comments

Many thanks for the comments… I understand the overriding sense that the film doesn’t end satisfyingly.  The questions around the girl are left purposefully unexplained beyond what Luke knows.

It was important that the audience know what Luke knows.  He knows very little except that someone needs help.

It’s not a comment on anyone who asks to know more but it is designed to make an audience to discuss what she is and where she came from and perhaps have them explore the realisation that they are asking and wanting more justification to care for her (as a character) than Luke does as a simply another human being needing help.

That structural and formal experiment (for want of a better word) doesn’t of course negate any dissatisfaction felt. That dissatisfaction is the collateral damage you have to accept as an artist when you present something more challenging than the norm. And it is a totally valid criticism. We wrestled with that element of the film right up until the final sound mix.

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