40 Acres
starts at the Freeman farm. An assault on the farm and its occupants is about to occur, but a small, mighty group manages to stop the assailants and ensure they never return. Here, we meet Hailey (Danielle Deadwyler), a former soldier who has trained her family, which comprises her partner Galen (Michael Greyeyes) and their four children, the oldest of whom is her son Emmanuel (Kateem O’Connor). The Freemans hold firm to their values, protecting their land, training to survive, and never forgetting their respective history as a blended Black and Indigenous family.
The film by writer-director R.T. Thorne takes place in the near future, when the decimation of animals disrupts the food chain and food scarcity drives humanity mad. Farmland is now the highest commodity one can possess. So, the stakes are incredibly high for the Freemans, especially for Hailey, who firmly understands how integral it is that she and her family defend their property and, by extension, their lives.
40 Acres Features A Stunning Danielle Deadwyler
The rest of the film’s cast is excellent and have great chemistry
Danielle Deadwyler is a force to be reckoned with here, as she plays the sturdy, forthright, no-nonsense soldier. She has no time to waste; we know that from the hard edge in Deadwyler’s voice, efficient movements, and steely gaze. She is always on high alert, and you know so intimately why, even before Thorne pulls back the curtain to give us Hailey’s recent history, which drives her to be who she is today.
I don’t see how anyone else could have played this role like Deadwyler; she doesn’t discard Hailey’s softness and affection for her family.
The script and Deadwyler’s performance give us enough to acknowledge that Hailey sees everything through the lens of the Black experience. Yet, the most palpable motive is her desire to do her best as a mother who protects her family. I don’t see how anyone else could have played this role like Deadwyler; she doesn’t discard Hailey’s softness and affection for her family. This isn’t the stereotypical “strong female character” — she is multifaceted.
40 Acres‘ ensemble is excellent, the chemistry is palpable, and these characters are easy to root for. Michael Greyeyes plays a character expressly designed to show off his vibrant personality. Unlike Hailey, Galen is a touch more relaxed, almost bemused by how things are going. A central theme in Greyeyes’ work has been to showcase the integrity of Indigenous stories, so it is heartwarming to have Galen express his desire to pass down his ancestor’s language and their way of life, especially in a reality where humanity has been challenged.
40 Acres Deals With A Tough Story (But It’s Never Too Heavy)
While the film does boast some pretty heavy scenes and subjects, it’s also fun. The opening sequence is exciting; plenty of humorous moments add levity to the dire situation. The characters have great chemistry, and while the younger cast members are a touch green, their enthusiasm for the project shines through. There are many stunning moments where we really vibe with the picture. A good sign that I liked 40 Acres was that I thought it could be a TV show. I wanted to stay with these characters and the world they inhabited.
The story primarily revolves around Hailey’s relationship with her son Manny, who is having a coming-of-age moment that puts him at odds with Hailey’s strict rules. I appreciated the film being family-focused because it’s one of the movie’s greatest strengths. There is an impending danger coming to the Freeman farm. Still, instead of wasting time building up the thread, creating a contrast with the Freemans to build some moral epic of good versus evil, Thorne opts for a more intimate tale set against the backdrop of this violent encounter.
40 Acres is a solid family drama tinged with social commentary and action. Throne understands how to balance contemporary themes of Black and Indigenous identity within a colonial space, the concept of reclamation, and defending ancestral land. History rears its ugly head again, but with the historically marginalized in the defensive position on their respective farmland, it was an exciting concept to digest. Ultimately, the film has some heartfelt moments and themes, and while dark and violent, it is, in the end, an uplifting story about family, legacy, and hope.
40 Acres had its premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. The film is 108 minutes long and not yet rated.