SXSW Film

Black Pond

When a deeply troubled stranger suddenly appears in the lives of the Thompsons and then – just as quickly – is found buried in the woods, the family is accused of murder in a tragedy of circumstance. On its face, Black Pond covers the days leading up to Blake's death and checks back in with the family, since redistributed, months later; it's the simple-enough premise surrounding a classic archetype, smartly and crisply shot. But just below that smooth surface – not least in the dream sequences and haunting animations – lies an existential meditation on passion and suffering, full of poetry and the sort of pitch-black humor best served by Brits, with tea and in the company of a three-legged dog and a questionable therapist. Kingsley and Sharpe have on their hands an adept and subtle debut that has been extremely well-received on the other side of the slightly bluer pond for good reason.

Saturday, March 17, 9:30pm, Alamo Lamar