Utah County theater buffs have long known Brigham Young University faculty advisor Barta Heiner is a remarkable actress."Diantha's Crossing," one of the new films introduced at the 8th annual LDS Film Festival at the SCERA in Orem and directed by Tom Russell, provides a nice showcase for her talents.
In this venture, Heiner is articulate, believable and manages to captivate for almost the entire 59 minutes of the student film.
(The only time she's not is when shes not physically on screen, when her character is played by two younger actresses.)
Heiner plays the part of Diantha Gray, an aged midwife who stays behind after Brigham Young has evacuated Salt Lake City because the army is coming to confront the Mormons in 1858.
Gray stays to help a woman about to give birth, a woman knocked unconscious when her husband strikes her on the street outside Gray's cabin.
In a gripping opening scene, Gray holds the door against the angry husband but he pushes it in against her and in the next scene, the husband is gone and Gray is facing a smiling stranger who seems to know her but doesn't explain why he's there.
As Gray tends to her laboring patient, stirs up a batch of cornbread and converses with the stranger, she takes the audience back in time to her childhood and to all kinds of memories, from miraculous healings to painful decisions. She takes the stranger to Far West with her to visit a terrible time.
She is both angry and kind, sad and funny as she talks, moving almost effortlessly from topic to topic without losing her place.
Along the way, she confronts her fears, her guilt and her prejudice against those who have caused her family and friends pain.
It's a well-done film in that it doesn't sugarcoat or oversimplify while allowing Gray's steady faith to shine through.
It avoids being cliche or preachy.
Jason Purdie plays the part of the errant husband and does a rare, good job of playing a serious role. (Hes usually cast in more humorous roles.)
Hank Florence as the stranger plays his part with just the right hint of love and humor. He doesnt let on until the very end as to why hes in Dianthas cabin.
The story is interesting, the lighting (mostly from the fireside) is extraordinary and the dialogue is in keeping with the era without coming across as hokey.
It doesn't get the blood boiling, but it's very much an emotion-laden film.
Nicely done.
E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com