Village Keeper

Directed by Karen Chapman, Village Keeper follows Olunike Adeliyi’s Jean and her two children as they attempt to overcome a recent loss and move on with their lives within a less-than-savory apartment complex. First-time filmmaker Chapman offers up a very deliberate, very plotless slice-of-life drama that does, at the outset, contain exceedingly little in the way of compelling, attention-grabbing attributes, as the movie, which often seems to be unfolding in slow motion, suffers from an initial lack of context that makes it difficult, if not impossible, to connect to the central character’s plight – with the arms-length atmosphere compounded by a padded-out narrative and a few less-than-accomplished periphery performances. (Adeliyi’s accomplished, stirring turn, at least, remains a continuing highlight within the proceedings.) The inclusion of certain emotional confessions and revelations within the picture’s final half hour comes too late to really make a difference (ie the viewer has long-since checked out by that point), and it’s clear, in the end, that Village Keeper, which feels very much like a first movie, comes off as a well-intentioned yet rough-around-the-edges endeavor that’s hardly able to pack the punch Chapman has obviously intended.

** out of ****