New Jersey Stage menu

New Jersey Stage search button

Search website




Virgina Yearick’s narrative-documentary feature Possum Kingdom has its World Premiere at the 2023 New Jersey International Film Festival!

COLUMNS | FEATURES | EVENT PREVIEWS
featured events


By Emily Ranieri


originally published: 05/31/2023


Virgina Yearick’s narrative-documentary feature Possum Kingdom has its World Premiere at the 2023 New Jersey International  Film Festival!

Virgina Yearick’s narrative-documentary feature, Possum Kingdom, will be playing online for 24 hours at the 2023 New Jersey International  Film Festival on June 4th. On a dilapidated South Carolina family farm, Yearick shows the simultaneous boredom and comfort of three generations of men who live there. The film features a documentary and fiction genre blend, which emphasizes their lives as that of a dream and of steady decay. Possum Kingdom stars both first-time actors, non-actors, and people playing alternate versions of themselves.

The film opens with a wide shot of a young boy playing basketball – wind and the sound of the basketball hitting the pavement is the only audio heard, establishing the film’s documentary elements. Gunshots/fireworks scare the boy and his friend, who has joined him. These types of long, wide shots are seen throughout the entirety of the film, positing the audience as an observant fly on the wall. We observe these farmers living through their monotonous routine, of sowing and planting. The coloring of this film is thoughtfully bright, creating whimsy in the monotony. There’s a beautiful camaraderie seen in their routine; the older men teach the young boys the lay of the land. The lack of music makes for an extremely immersive experience and further adds to the documentary features of the film. Every sound heard is diegetic, placing the viewer directly into the film.

These southern farmers' unexpected beauty and kindness is juxtaposed with the prevalent political turmoil and racism of where they live. A wide shot of a barren freeway features a confederate flag flying high; this shot precedes a young white man bringing his elderly black neighbor food. Their friendship and free-flowing conversation is surprising yet endearing, adding to the heartwarming nature of Yearick’s film. The film returns to their relationship multiple times throughout the narrative-documentary, emphasizing the innate kindness of the misunderstood.

The youngest farmer learning the ropes is especially interesting to watch. He exhibits the childlike wonder of a young boy, wanting to explore and enjoy time with his friends. However, he also wants to be like his older male relatives, shooting guns, fishing, and farming. He tows this line throughout the entirety of the film, allowing him to be a simultaneous rose-colored lens and realistic lens through which the audience experiences the film. There’s a joyous serenity in the story of Possum Kingdom, which creates appreciation and empathy for these farmers. They have a quiet passion for their way of life and enjoy spending time with one another. We see them lighting fireworks, fishing, and playing in the river, finding comfort in the seemingly small joys life offers them.



 
Advertise with New Jersey Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info



Despite its lack of a linear storyline, Possum Kingdom is captivating. Its beautiful visuals and interesting characters, whether they be actors or non-actors, makes for an interesting watch. The unknown of this film adds to its intrigue – not knowing what was scripted or unscripted, who was an actor or non-actor, created a dreamland. Yearick offers a different perspective of the southern farmer stereotype; she presents a family that is kind, generous, and love their community.

Possum Kingdom will be playing along with the short experimental film Five, Four, Three, Two at the 2023 New Jersey International Film Festival on Sunday, June 4, 2023 – Online for 24 Hours. For more info and tickets go here.

Also check out the 2023 New Jersey International Film Festival Filmmaker Q+A with Possum Kingdom Director Virginia Yearick, Lead Actor and DP Erik Doty and Festival Director Al Nigrin: 

 







EVENT CALENDAR

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

David Sedaris

Tuesday, October 03, 2023 @ 7:30pm
Count Basie Center for the Arts
99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701
category: comedy


Click here for full description

Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes

Tuesday, October 03, 2023 @ 8:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) - Cauldwell Playground
1 Clyde Potts Dr, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


Click here for full description

Jake Shimabukuro

Tuesday, October 03, 2023 @ 7:30pm
The Vogel
99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701
category: music


Click here for full description

Tuesday Night Record Club - Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Tuesday, October 03, 2023 @ 7:30pm
Monmouth University - The Great Hall
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music


Click here for full description

Livin’ It Right

Tuesday, October 03, 2023 @ 11:00am
Grunin Center
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: music


Click here for full description

Seong Jin Cho

Tuesday, October 03, 2023 @ 8:30pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


Click here for full description

Laughs In The Loft

Wednesday, October 04, 2023 @ 7:30pm
The Loft @ South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC)
One Sopac Way, South Orange, NJ 07079
category: comedy


Click here for full description

Steve Hofstetter

Wednesday, October 04, 2023 @ 7:00pm
Stress Factory Comedy Club
90 Church Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: comedy


Click here for full description



For more event listings, click here





more in film


 

 


New Jersey Stage © 2023 by Wine Time Media, LLC | PO Box 140, Spring Lake, NJ 07762 | info@newjerseystage.com

Nobody covers the Arts throughout the Garden State like New Jersey Stage!

Images used on this site have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and PR firms.
If there is a problem with the rights to any image, please contact us and we will look into the matter.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, and on our RSS feed




Art | Comedy | Dance | Film | Music | Theatre | Ad Rates | About Us | Pitch a Story | Links | Radio Shows | Privacy Policy