Juniper

Plot

Set in rural New Zealand in the 1990s, the film tells the story of the developing relationship of the adolescent Sam and his acerbic and alcoholic grandmother with an unconventional past, whom he has not met before.

George, a troubled teen; Maton, an absent father; and Ruth, an alcoholic. Ruth broke her leg and requires help for day-to-day tasks. Ruth moves in with the duo and is reliant on them and a nurse, Sarah.

George tied a noose on a tree, seemingly preparing for a suicide. Maton left George and Ruth for a work trip. Maton instructed George to take care of Ruth and mentioned that Ruth is keeping them financially afloat.

Sarah brought an Anglican church reverend, Reverend Mathew, to Ruth to absolve any regret that Ruth has. Ruth insisted she have no regrets and did not need him. Mathew remained resilient to Ruth, and Ruth admonished the reverend and assaulted him to make him leave. Following the reverend, Sarah also left.

George, who is unable to leave the house, is forced to take care of Ruth. Ruth's consistent demands frustrated George. George diluted Ruth's gin when she requested a refill, which makes Ruth physical.

Ruth attacked George with gin cups, and George stormed off. Not in his right mind George went back to the tree with the noose and prepared for his end, only to be dissuaded by a white mare.

Nightfall. George came back to Ruth on the floor. Ruth attempted to retrieve her jug of gin that was out of reach but failed. George helps Ruth to her chair, and they start talking while drinking Gin.

The next day, Sarah came back to the house. George and Sarah talked, and she showed George a collage of photos and letters of Ruth's past on the front line taking photos (war correspondent).

In the middle of the night, George is reading his suicide note and decides to tear it up. He called his father, but an unfamiliar woman answered the phone. Asking for his dad, the woman redirects George's calls and addresses Maton as "Darling". An argument ensues and George slams the phone.

Transcription of George's suicide note.

{

To Dad,

I Love you, I know that at times it seems like I don't, but I do. I'm sorry for arguing with you, and making life for you difficult at times, it's just, sometimes we dont see eye to eye, and we're both too stubborn to compromise. If i could do it all again, I would try to be a better son, because deep down, I know you try your hardest to be a good dad (even though your cooking is shit). But I want you to know that I love you, and have always loved you.

When mum died, the world as we both _____ it, stopped. Life didn't make sense anymore. I didn't know how to continue on living when all the love in my _____ suddenly gone. Ripped out and _____ felt a similar way which is _____

}

George and his friend work the decrepit yard, and in return Ruth will provide them with booze. The gang spent some time with Ruth, and by night they started a party. Ruth joined the youngster and socialized and shared a dance with George. The next morning Ruth is unresponsive and is sent to the hospital. Maton returns and decides that Ruth will be sent to hospice.

Sarah confides to George that Maton is not listening to her advice, and she thinks Ruth wants to spend time with her family. George is avoidant and talks about his time with his mom. During George's mom's last moments, he promises to hold his mom's hand while she passes. But during the moment he was unable to bear looking at his mom in pain and left. Till now he is still unable to visit his mom's grave.

George brought Ruth back home with the help of Sarah against Maton's will. Maton found George's suicide note and reconciled with George at his mom's grave. He laments that he should not have sent George to boarding school shortly after his mom died and not spent time with George. At the doctor's appointment, they realized Ruth is dying. Ruth got herself baptized, though she admits she's doing it for Sarah. The family spent Ruth's last moments together before she euthanized herself, overdosing on morphine, at the hill watching sunrises, accompanied by her family and nurse.

Cast

Charlotte Rampling as Ruth

George Ferrier as Sam

Marton Csokas as Robert, Sam's father

Edith Poor as Sarah, Ruth's nurse

Production

Juniper is written and directed by Matthew J. Saville, in his directorial debut feature film.

It was produced by Desray Armstrong and Angela Littlejohn.

The name derives from juniper berries, a key ingredient in gin, to which Ruth is addicted and drinks by the jugful every day.

Release

Juniper screened in many film festivals:

2021

Bari International Film Festival (International Panorama Competition, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Charlotte Rampling)

Atlantic International Film Festival – Special Presentation,

Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival

Edmonton International Film Festival

Brisbane International Film Festival

Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival

2022

Palm Springs International Film Festival

Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Edinburgh International Film Festival

It was released in cinemas in New Zealand on 28 October 2021, and in Australia in August 2022, distributed by Transmission Films.

Reception

The film received generally positive reviews. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 92% of 50 critics have given the film a positive review, with an average rating of 7.1 out of 10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Juniper's story offers few surprises -- and it doesn't need any, with Charlotte Rampling holding the viewer rapt from start to finish". Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 68 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

The Hollywood Reporter praised its writing in the dialogue between Sam and Ruth. Australian Financial Review wrote "New Zealand films are known for their expansive feeling for landscape, and Juniper is no exception", and "Rampling is predictably good as the tough, intelligent, old woman, but Ferrier, on debut is excellent in the role of a teenage boy struggling towards a hard-won maturity". The ABC's Jason Di Rosso said that Rampling's role was slightly reminiscent of her role in Swimming Pool (2003) and "Saville succeeds in creating an emotional authenticity to Ruth and Sam's difficult relationship...". FilmInk wrote "...the real star here is Rampling. She is subtly sensational, conveying complex emotions with a single glance.", and praised Saville's direction, done "with great compassion and insight".