Reflective Encounters

Corinne Walker’s Homegrown successfully implements psychedelic imagery to elevate the real horror surrounding exploited migrant workers in the UK’s farming industry.

Extreme heat exacerbates the greenhouse’s already unsafe conditions to a critical point. Strawberry pickers Nicole and Vincent (Shannon Hayes & Shaun Blackstock) cannot afford to stop despite the hallucinogenic visions, or a chesty cough, as their superiors repeat their condescending mantra, “the volume you pick influences how much you earn”. Desperation leads to performing demeaning tasks outside of the job description for a promise of better patches, pitting fellow pickers against each other to beat heavily subsidised payslips.

In her searing take on greedy capitalist systems, Walker nails intermediary Travis’ (Adam Young) portrayal. A rung above Nicole, he wields what little power he has with malicious glee. Yet, after ‘the boss man’ Mr Jones (Tristam Davies) turns up for inspection, we see how small Travis becomes when berated and threatened with dismissal as well. It is only after Nicole’s impactful sacrifice that, predominantly off-camera, Mr Jones must face the consequences, likely having to report back to his own superiors.

Viscerally uncomfortable, Homegrown’s truth fully sets in when you realise this story is one of thousands.

— Nathan Hardie