Director: David Von AnckenRelease Date: 24 August 2007 (UK)
Genre: Drama / War / Western
Stars: Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan
Not the traditional Western, Seripham Falls is ultimately a revenge story, The Fugitive with cowboy boots and six shooters. The motivation of the leading characters, Carver (Liam Neeson) and Gideon (Pierce Brosnan) is not clear but Carver’s obstinate determination to confront Gideon leaves a trail of death as Gideon is just as determined to escape. One question I kept asking myself was “Where was Gideon heading?” It is not immediately obvious which is the protagonist and antagonist and, as more of the back story was revealed, it still remains difficult to determine. There is a touch of surrealism throughout the film that becomes more prominent as the film.
The film is beautifully shot and the scenery is absolutely stunning. The scene in the mountains and snow is contrasted with the flat, dry and very hot salt pans. It is in the hot salt pans that both characters meet Lucy C Fair who offers them a swap resulting in each of them having a gun and single bullet for their final confrontation. Could the choice of location represent heaven and hell and their trip not only physically but metaphorically takes them down the path to Hell?
Can’t help but wonder on the choice of name for Gideon, with the link to the Bible (an Israelite judge, appearing in the Book of Judges) and Carver, with its meaning carver of wood – possibly because, through the back story, we understand that Carver as he is trying to carver out a life for his wife and two children after the Civil War.
