A film like “Requiem” is just begging to be turned in to a feature, as I think a lot of the whole Salem Witch Trials is capable of interesting stories. “Requiem” is not so much a tale about the Salem Witch Trials, and how it became a scapegoat for hate, repression, and homophobia.
Set in 1605 against the backdrop of the witch trials, “Requiem” is a romantic gothic drama about Evelyn and Mary, whose hidden love is being encroached upon by the local parish. As Evelyn and Mary’s feelings for one another intensify, Evelyn is pressured in to marrying the local boy at the behest of her father, a local minister. Bella Ramsey is as great as ever, playing young Evelyn who is grappling with her homosexuality. It’s 1605 and women are under the rule of all men, and her character is forced in to a corner.
Not only is she in love with another woman, but she’s also being pressured in to marrying a young man from her village. This amounts to a lot of awkward encounters and interplay, as she can barely muster up the enthusiasm for the courting being staged. “Requiem” is filled with considerable tension, especially as Evelyn submits more and more to her feelings for Mary. The more the pair embraces the more she finds it impossible to find a way out of their repressive village.
Their love is pure, but they’re always at risk of being terrorized by the local patriarchs that demonize their relationship from the outset. The performances are stellar, especially from Safia Oakley-Green who, as Mary, is desperate to run away with Ramsey’s Evelyn. Emma J. Gilbertson’s film is a brilliantly directed period piece worthy of a full length adaptation. It’s a rich love story with an all too relevant glimpse in to how far yet how little homosexuality has progressed in society.
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