By Anne Brodie R.T. Thorne’s rural near future thriller 40 Acres is a masterful cinematic exploration of events in rural Canada – shot in Sudbury – during a violent civil war and a fungal pandemic that wiped out 98% of the animal biosphere. A family of homesteaders, Kataem O’Connor as Emanuel, Michael Greyeyes as Galen, Leenah Robinson as Raine, Jaeda LeBlanc as Danis and Cookie played by Haile Amare live there under the watchful, stern eye of matriarch Hailey (Danielle Deadwyler) who owns the place. Hailey’s ancestors established it after escaping the racist US south. Dawn, a wanderer played by Milcania Diaz-Rojas, shows up on their property and joins them. Present day, the world is upside down, marauders come to grab the farm, a valuable resource. Hailey has trained the entire family to shoot to kill efficiently; they easily achieve headshots of invaders coming for the farm over long distances. Haileys also trained them to think strategically and use resources at hand including iffy Wi-Fi. Hailey has every right to be exacting and unforgiving – their lives are in their own hands; she is forceful for a reason. And she’s able to predict strangers’ movements to stop them cold. She’s asked to visit an elderly neighbour (Elizabeth Saunders) who tells her that none of this is God’s doing and that things she’s seen in the war have restored her faith. Radical. Thorne’s visually appealing and exciting film has it all, power, intelligence, beautifully detailed, diverse characters, dreamlike qualities and authenticity for this excellent tale. There is danger, quick thinking and action galore, sure, but Thorne’s empathy comes through. The score is arresting and battle scenes are staged in a spellbinding, balletic manner. 40 Acres is a fully realised, striking even challenging creation and one of the best films around. In theatres across Canada July 4.