Passionately captures the wilderness of soul and marshland
he film starts off with the murder investigation of a dead man, Chase Andrews, whose body is found in the wilderness of the marshlands in North Carolina, and soon the narrative settles on Kya Clark, a young girl, known to many of the townspeople as ‘The Marsh Girl.’ This movie is an adaptation of Delia Owens’ bestselling novel of the same name.
We see Kya’s suffocating loneliness and haplessness as she tries to survive in the marshland after her mother and her siblings desert her abusive father (Garret Dillahunt), who too disappears, leaving her alone in their lodge, which is situated on the edge of the marsh. As she grows up, she transforms into a gifted, intelligent, and charming young lady who is misunderstood by the people who live in her vicinity. The people assume that she is some kind of crazy, uncivilized brute and are thus suspicious of Chase’s untimely demise.
Taking up her case is the kindly retired lawyer Tom Milton (David Strathairn), who believes that she is falsely accused.
The murder investigation and the ensuing courtroom drama are the least compelling arcs of the plot. These two elements, executed in a drab and unexciting manner, unravel the mystery of the ‘Marsh Girl’. They help in propelling the plot forward but do not work well in ensuring the film is a murder mystery.
With the intermingled scenes of Kya’s childhood and young womanhood, the film surely works as a slice-of-life film. It unravels Kya’s solitary existence in a totally uninhabitable environment, as she opens herself to new experiences and creates relationships with the sweet, tender-hearted Tate Walker and the privileged Chase Andrew.
While Tate shares her obsession with nature, he abandons her for a life beyond the marsh. On the other hand, rich boy Chase seems fascinated by Kya but is clearly uninterested in a real relationship. This movie contains many scenic images, and the telling brings to the fore, Kya’s strong persona, highlighting her abuse, neglect, abandonment, and rape in an extremely realistic manner.
The film heavily relies upon the performances of its protagonists, flawlessly portrayed by Jojo Regina as the young Kya and Daisy Edgar-Jones as the older Kya. They explore the character with emotional depth and realism, enabling the audience to experience the character’s curiosity, wonder, and vulnerability. They both have soulful moments that touch an emotional chord.
Harris Dickinson and Taylor John Smith, who portray Chase Andrews and Tate Walker, deliver brilliant performances, despite their characters being underdeveloped. It is a delight to watch them exude a cool demeanour, leading to loving and hating them with equal fervour.
In the end, as the credits roll, Taylor Swift’s haunting song Carolina evokes the wilderness within a lonesome soul. Overall, the film captures the wilderness of the soul and marshland with passion and in a very legendary way.