Sun Never Again examines the environmental and personal costs to a family caused by strip mining. Like their neighbors, the family of three must decide to sell their home or stay and fight the good fight. At the center of the story remains a little boy, Dule (Rastko Racic), whose wild and vivid imagination is the only bit of light against the grim background and constant mine explosions. The film is a powerful meditation on the personal and broader implications of capitalism’s endless thirst to devour the natural world and suck away its resources.
Along with Racic, the Serbian language film stars Dusan Jovic as Dule’s dad Vid and Natasa Markovic as his mother Ada. Director/co-writer David Jovanovic‘s film opens with a bleak shot of the mines, while explosions and roaring machinery echo throughout the lean runtime, to the point that they rattle and shake the family’s home like an earthquake. Dule, meanwhile, busies himself by often playing in mud and grime, not-so-subtle imagery that shows how much of the natural world the mining company has destroyed. Yet, his father builds a greenhouse, and Dule frequently assists him with the project.
Once they complete the greenhouse, it’s a refuge for father and son, especially Dule. He can’t get over the fact that such vibrant flowers and greenery can grow amidst the hellscape just outside of his home and the ravaged land. There are some gorgeous shots of Dule among the flowers, including an interaction with a hummingbird. This creates a colorful and fantastical setting against the film’s otherwise brown and gray tones and frequent shots of pulverized mountains.
Vid, however, faces increasing pressure from a neighbor and Ada to sell the home to the mining company. This forces him to return to the bottle over and over again, and it provides another pressure point within the movie. This is a family utterly strained financially and by the constant booming noises just outside of their window. You can’t blame Ada for wanting to ditch the area and sell their home for some major cash, while it’s understandable why Vid doesn’t want to sell. It’s their land and their home.
The three leads all give compelling performances, especially Jovic and Markovic once the tension ratches up. Yet, Racic also takes the viewer along for the ride, especially during scenes where viewers get a glimpse of his imagination against the rubble. The kid is a good actor, and he’s a big selling point for this film. He certainly portrays a sense of innocence and maintains a sense of wonder against a devastating backdrop.
Sun Never Again is a powerful film that explores the personal implications of environmental destruction upon a family and a corporation’s utter indifference. This film is rich in imagery, and it allows the characterization and strong storytelling to serve the message. This feature never feels sanctimonious and instead focuses on a tangible human story.
