Pelican Blood
Owner of the Landau Riding Stables, Wiebke is accustomed to being alone with her horses and her duties, to managing by herself, to overcoming challenges without support, she and her adopted daughter Nikolina now ready to take the next step with their family as they prepare to welcome five-year-old Raya, her blonde hair held in high braids as they first meet.
Wiebke working alongside the police mounted squad led by Benedikt, training their horses to remain calm in violent protests, among smoke and noise and fire, while initially compliant other than the understandable quirk of hoarding food lest it be taken away it soon becomes apparent that Raya will present a similarly complex trial, the agency having failed to disclose previous placements where she could not adjust, becoming disruptive and destructive.
Taking its title from a mural depicted on the wall of the orphanage depicting a bird who offers itself to save its children, Pelican Blood (Pelikanblut) is written and directed by Katrin Gebbe, starring Nina Hoss as the patient but pressured Wiebke, strong but physically and emotionally exhausted by the demands placed on her, Murathan Muslu as Benedikt, his well-intentioned offers of kindness rejected by Wiebke, unwilling to compromise her independence, and Katerina Lipovska as Nikolina, adrift as her home life is upturned.
A film of devotion and sacrifice, the full extent of Raya’s trauma is not immediately apparent, Adelia-Constance Ocleppo shifting between wounded innocent and unmanageable tantrums of wild rage, blaming the unseen force of her imaginary friend for her actions, eighteen months old when her prostitute mother was murdered by a gentleman caller and clinging to the body for two days before she was found.
The psychologist warning that her smiles are not bonding but a form of mimicry of those she sees around her, that she has no genuine emotional comprehension or boundaries, when the children of other parents fight through their shame to accuse Raya resulting in her expulsion from nursery, what they say is all too believable, yet Wiebke cannot break her promise to the child who may hide a monstrous aspect behind her sad blue eyes.
A drama which harbours a dark side which recalls We Need to Talk About Kevin, Niko is displaced and abandoned in favour of Raya as Wiebke explores extremes to encourage her to settle, finally considering exorcism, and throughout Pelican Blood is compelling despite the slow pace, ambiguous in its impossible decisions, no right answers only those less terribly wrong, the viewer left to decide whether it is Wiebke’s greatest strength or weakness that she will not give up.
Pelican Blood will be available on Shudder from Monday 4th August
