Vesper Parent Guide

In a desperate attempt to prevent ecological catastrophe, scientists innovated in genetic technology, but some of their experimental viruses and organisms spread through the natural world. The result was total devastation when all animals and edible plants were destroyed, along with most humans. Now a privileged few live in glassed off cities known as citadels while the other survivors scavenge in the wilderness or trade blood for seeds in order to eat.

Vesper (Raffiella Chapman) is one of the few remaining humans. The sole support of her completely paralyzed father (Richard Brake), the brilliant young 13-year-old spends her time breeding new plants and trying to find a way to make seeds fertile. In this she is assisted by a drone which has a neurological connection to her father, and she is thwarted by her vicious Uncle Jonas (Eddie Marsan) who runs the nearby settlement with thuggish efficiency.

When Vesper finds an injured young woman in the woods, she realizes that such a well-dressed person could only come from the nearby citadel. Hoping for help in reaching her dream of conducting research in citadel labs, Vesper brings Camellia (Rosy McEwen) home and nurses her as she recovers. But Camellia has plans and secrets of her own – and so does Uncle Jonas.

There is an entire world of dystopian sci-fi movies out there and they often feel much the same. Not Vesper. This is an original film that manages to carry more than its fair share of surprises. One of the downsides of being a movie critic is that after a while you’ve seen it all – but not here. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire runtime and never knew what was going to happen next. That could be due to the movie’s independent provenance – it’s a European movie (but filmed in English, so no subtitles) produced outside the Hollywood ecosystem.

Credit also goes to the cast and crew for the quality of the production. The acting is excellent and Raffiella Chapman turns in an unforgettable performance as Vesper. Special mention goes to Richard Brake who, as Vesper’s paralyzed father, can only use his eyes as a window to his emotions. The CGI also deserves recognition: the budget was obviously limited but every dollar (or euro) was well spent and there are some truly magical moments in the film. Vesper is a reminder that it doesn’t take hundreds of millions of dollars to tell a good story and tell it well.

There is no MPA rating for the film which falls within the PG-13 range. There are some non-explicit but sexually threatening scenes, but the more prevalent problem is violence. Vesper lives in a brutal, Darwinian society and this movie features plenty of stabbings and the use of firearms. Blood and injuries are visible but are clearly meant to be horrifying.

Vesper is an intriguing film but it’s not a perfect one. There are some contradictions in the otherwise excellent worldbuilding: why, for instance, do people have futuristic biotech products when they live in ramshackle houses and don’t have enough to eat? The Pilgrims (veiled female scavengers) are introduced in the plot but never fully explained. These flaws are forgivable in the face of the movie’s positive messages. This is a movie that celebrates intelligence, perseverance, courage, and loyalty. It’s particularly apt for 2022 – as adverse climate events batter our planet, Vesper is a reminder not to take our fragile, beautiful home for granted.