New developments arrive fast and furiously in this contemplative character study before it finally settles down into an examination of the motivations of James (JimMyron Ross), a very troubled, black, poor and criminally-inclined 12 year-old coming-of-age in a rural region of the Mississippi Delta.
At the point of departure, we meet Lawrence (Michael J. Smith, Sr.), a middle-aged black man despondent over news of the death of his identical twin by drug overdose.
Larry is then caught in the midst of his own suicide attempt by a kindly neighbor (Johnny McPhail) who has no idea he's distraught enough to shoot himself in the chest.
Also grieving Darius' demise are his monosyllabic son, James, and his ex-wife, Marlee (Tarra Riggs), a former substance abuser. Larry survives his self-inflicted gunshot wound, and returns form the hospital only to have his nephew darken his doorstep, literally and figuratively.
For James' unique means of mourning involves asking to hear all the gory details about how his daddy died, before robbing his uncle at gunpoint.
The felonious-intentioned kid then hops on his moped and uses his ill-gotten gains to kickstart a career dealing drugs. This doesn't sit well with his mother, even though she's been fired from her job as a maid, which means she's now free to wonder where she went wrong raising a son who doesn't have a lick of sense or compassion.
As preposterous as this plot probably sounds, Ballast is actually a perverse pleasure to watch because it morphs into this ethereal mood piece with virtually no dialogue. Mostly, we're treated to the specter of James buzzing about on his motorbike against the stark backdrop of acre after acre of sparse winter farmland. Otherwise, the picture is punctuated by his mom and uncle working out their issues, and bursts of terrifying violence, like when a couple of teenagers run a car off the road to deliver a vicious beatdown in a backwoods version of a bloody turf war.
In sum, Ballast is a compelling slice-of-life adventure with a gritty naivete featuring a talented cast comprised primarily of non-professionals.
They manage to imbue the production with a palpable sense of super-realism which allows you to forget you're watching actors. That amounts to movie magic in my book, even if it is in service of an infuriating display of black-on-black dysfunction.
Very Good (3 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 96 minutes
Studio: Kino International
DVD Extras: Ballast Scene Development, a 37-minute "The Making of"
featurette charting the evolution of several scenes through the improvisational conflict sessions and two-month rehearsal process that gave form to the final film, the theatrical trailer, and a new essay by film critic Amy Taubin.
To see a trailer for Ballast, visit: