Principal photography for Clio Barnard’s “Dark River,” a family drama starring Ruth Wilson (“The Affair”), has kicked off. Filming will take place in Yorkshire, a county in Northern England. Channel 4 reports that “Dark River” is produced by Moonspun Films’ Tracy O’Riordan with Left Bank Pictures’ Lila Rawlings. Andy Harries and Suzanne Mackie are executive producing.
Barnard previously helmed two critically acclaimed features: the 2010 doc “The Arbor,” a portrait of the late playwright Andrea Dunbar, and 2013’s “The Selfish Giant,” an adaptation of an Oscar Wilde story.
Joining Wilson on-screen for “Dark River” are Mark Stanley (“Game of Thrones”) and Sean Bean (“The Martian,” “The Lord of The Rings”).
The film follows a long-brewing sibling rivalry. “Following the death of her father, Alice (Wilson) returns to her home village for the first time in 15 years, to claim the tenancy to the family farm she believes is rightfully hers,” Channel 4 summarizes. “Once there she is confronted by a brother (Stanley) she barely recognizes, worn down by years of trying to keep the farm going, who is naturally hostile to her arrival and her claim over the tenancy. Their dispute unearths traumatic memories for Alice, memories which have remained dormant for years but which now threaten both of their futures.”
As part of her preparation to write and direct “Dark River” Barnard spoke to experts in traumatic memory. She has said she is drawn to telling stories about outsiders — those who are “marginalized and isolated.”
O’Riordan commented, “‘Dark River’ is a visceral, haunting, and lyrical story and we’re delighted to have assembled our regular collaborators to help bring Clio’s beautifully crafted script to life and welcome DOP, Adriano Goldman to the team.” She added, “Ruth Wilson and Mark Stanley’s fearless commitment to the roles of siblings Alice and Joe leading up to the shoot is exciting to behold.”
Wilson won a Golden Globe in 2015 for her role on “The Affair.” Her other credits include “Saving Mr. Banks,” “Luther,” and the BBC miniseries “Jane Eyre.”