Search - Pearl Diver on DVD

Singularly powerful, emotionally moving feature.

Midwest Book Review | Oregon, WI USA | 03/04/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Winner of Best Feature Film at the East Lansing Film Festival among a host of other festival awards, Pearl Diver is a DVD that blends elements of a family drama with a tragic murder mystery. When two sisters lose their mother to murder, the loss haunts them for twenty years - until a farming accident uncovers the sense of trauma they have kept hidden since that horrific night. Yet hope can be found in facing the truth despite its most terrible realities, in this singularly powerful, emotionally moving feature. 97 minutes."

Thoughtful and moving picture

Galina | Virginia, USA | 05/04/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Pearl Diver (2004) is a beautiful, thoughtful, moving, involving and uplifting movie about two sisters who used to be very close in their childhood on the rural farm where they grew up in a Mennonite community. One tragic night, their mother was murdered by two intruders who tried to find something in their house. The girls' lives were changed forever. That night took them apart, and only twenty years later when another tragedy strikes, the sisters begin to unravel the mystery of old trauma. This is the film debut by writer /director Sidney King. He's got his own style in telling the story and creating and exploring interesting complex characters, not loud and flashy but clear, distinguished, and very attractive. I am especially pleased to see in one of the important roles the famous Russian stage and screen actor, Eugene Lazarev. His character provides the necessary depth to the story, he is a keeper of history and he holds the key to the mystery of what could be the reason for past tragedy that put the long shadow to the lives of the girls and their relationship. There is a short documentary on the disc, narrated by King where he talks on the purpose of movie, the reasons he made it and about the characters and their story."

"gorgeous visual poetry"

D.S, | USA | 06/23/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Wow - beautiful photography! One critic described this film as "gorgeous visual poetry", and I agree. There are so many perfectly-captured moments when the picture says much more than the dialogue. 'Pearl Diver' is a heartwarming story that makes you think, but without bashing you over the head. The casting was perfect - very believable. I thought the ending would be predictable, but there were some surprises. Parts of the story were unsettling, but I was left with such an unexpected peaceful feeling afterwards. I hadn't heard of this film before, but I'm so glad I took a chance and bought the DVD."