The Fence

Within the walls of a private construction company in Africa, British supervisor Horn (Matt Dillon) hangs around with his colleague Cal (Tom Blyth) while expecting his wife Leonie (Mia McKenna-Bruce) to stop by for a visit. There is a sense of foreboding in the air — earlier that day a worker was killed in an accident. Soon, Alboury (Isaach De Bankolé), a local villager and brother of the deceased, arrives and demands to collect the body.

Tensions start to rise, and things start to unravel as Alboury demands answers. Leonie gets caught up in the chaos, struggling to understand the circumstances and in shock from the events and revelations that quickly unfold. Cal’s manic energy escalates and the construction site effectively starts to feel like a powder keg waiting to explode.

Legendary Festival alum Claire Denis adapts the Bernard-Marie Koltès play Black Battles with Dogs, bringing her singular filmmaking approach while incorporating the feel of a chamber piece. The interwoven dialogue draws attention to things normally looked away from, shining a claustrophobic spotlight on the dark sides of humanity. Themes of racial inequality, exploitation, and masculinity weave in and out as each character starts to reveal hidden truths about the situations they find themselves in.

ANITA LEE

Content advisory: coarse language