‘Carissa’ Review: A South African Youth Portrait That Knows the Value of Stillness

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As an avid movie enthusiast who has traveled extensively across continents and immersed myself in diverse cultures, I must say that “Carissa” is a cinematic gem that truly stands out. Hailing from the picturesque Cedarberg mountains of South Africa, this coming-of-age story beautifully encapsulates the spirit of its unique setting while providing a fresh perspective on rural life and the indigenous tea industry.

Set among the picturesque rooibos farms nestled in South Africa’s Cedarberg mountains, “Carissa” is a poignant tale of adolescence that mirrors the unique character of this globally cherished yet often mispronounced tea – its soothing late-afternoon scent, its smoky floral aroma, and its warm amber color. While the film abounds with enchanting beauty during the magic hour, it is far from a mere travelogue. Instead, Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar’s debut feature delves deeply into the resilience of Carissa, a young girl living in an overlooked yet hardworking rural community. It is no wonder that she yearns for freedom, though “Carissa” unfolds as more than a simple tale of city versus countryside.

Rather than being like many other films of its kind, Jacobs and Delmar’s film stands out due to the nuanced gradations of urban development and rustic charm found within its secluded setting. Additionally, it portrays a rural Cape Coloured population, a multiracial group in South Africa seldom shown even in local cinema, with great detail and curiosity. The film’s unique blend of cultural specificity and more broadly appealing cinematic techniques, reminiscent at times of Andrea Arnold and Michelangelo Frammartino, yet not imitative, is expected to propel “Carissa” forward on the international festival circuit in the upcoming year.

In the movie, the face of Carissa (played by Gretchen Ramsden), who appears both fresh and worn beyond her years, serves as the starting and ending point with identical close-ups. Her eyes, lost in the distant allure of her phone’s screen, suggest scrolling through videos is her primary means of interacting with a broader world she fears to miss out on. Born and raised in the secluded mountain town of Wupperthal, approximately 200 miles north of Cape Town, by her strict grandmother Wilhelmiena (Wilhelmiena Hesselman), the cast includes many untrained actors. The village is surrounded by rooibos plantations, and opportunities for locals outside that industry are limited.

When it’s revealed that a high-end golf resort will be constructed near Wupperthal’s tea plantations, many young locals decide to join the employment and educational programs provided by the developers. Wilhelmiena persuades Carissa to do the same, but she’s hesitant: Her aspirations for her future don’t involve serving the affluent for a modest wage. The script by Jacobs and Delmar, which is focused on characters rather than explicit commentary, subtly balances the advantages of new job opportunities against the personal desires and resistance of individuals in the face of urbanization and land development issues.

In the local tavern, Carissa often escapes her mundane existence by drinking excessively with her friend Gladwin (Gladwin van Niekerk), causing concern for Wilhelmiena. However, when she’s banned from the bar due to her unruly behavior, she seeks solace in a quieter setting than Wupperthal: the isolated rooibos farm of her distant relative Hendrik (Hendrik Kriel). Here, she’s tasked with collecting, drying, and packaging the prickly red bush that yields the popular tea. The work is grueling, the living conditions basic, yet over time, Carissa develops a connection to the land she had merely inhabited before, and to the farming community who once seemed distant. This newfound attachment brings her a tranquility she’s never experienced in her young life. Rooibos enthusiasts might appreciate the film’s detailed portrayal of this earthy, hands-on process.

This story subtly unveils profound personal insights that feel like earthshaking events from the protagonist’s perspective. In the movie, Carissa doesn’t physically journey too far, but her perception of her surroundings broadens significantly, resulting in a more tenderly moving progression than typically found in such coming-of-age narratives. Ramsden, who was previously seen in South Africa’s 2019 Oscar submission “Toorbos”, delivers a vibrant yet restrained performance. Her character subtly transforms as she gradually softens, reflecting her growing openness to the potential of her surroundings. Her interactions with non-professional co-stars are authentic and fluid, and the differences in acting styles accentuate Carissa’s ethereal aura of not quite fitting in.

Gray Kotzé’s exceptional cinematography adds depth and richness to this small tale, capturing not only the grandeur of the surrounding natural landscape but also the subtler aspects of everyday life, light, dust, and domestic spaces. The film’s color scheme is heavily influenced by the earthy tones of rooibos tea, yet the vast African sky serves as a dynamic backdrop of vibrant pinks and deep blues, hinting at unexplored realms that might one day be Carissa’s destiny, perhaps in the future beyond the mountains.

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2024-12-23 20:47