REVIEW: ‘Under A Dark Sun’ Delivers Complex Characters

Under a Dark Sun (Qui Sème le Vent), a Netflix French thriller mini-series, follows Alba Mazier (Ava Baya) as she flees from her past, only to stumble into worse problems. She becomes entangled in the tumultuous lives of the Lasserre Family, owners of a formerly prosperous flower farm falling on tough times and beset by internal strife. Wanting nothing more than to protect and care for her son Leo, Alba will do whatever it takes to keep him safe, even if it means burning down the entire Lesserre Family.

Crafting a thriller that maintains high tension while also keeping a compelling mystery is an impressive feat. Balancing the need of individual moments while never losing track of the whole takes care and precise storytelling. But when it’s achieved, it creates something memorable, and that’s what Under a Dark Sun accomplishes.

As Alba is drawn deeper into the web of intrigue surrounding the Lesserre Family, the gears that turn the story at times feel chaotic, but come together to form a harmonious whole. As the revels began to play out at the end of the six-episode series, it seemed impossible that all the various strands would come together, but they do. What’s more, every explanation feels satisfying and oddly reasonable. 

Under a Dark Sun has wonderfully complex characters.

One of the great elements that helps manifest the narrative’s complexities is its characters. There are few wholly innocent people in Under a Dark Sun, but at the same time, there are few entirely guilty ones as well. Wrongdoings from decades past are unearthed and inform the characters’ actions, making them feel fully realized and thought out. And nowhere is this complexity more present than in the series’ central figure, Alba.

It is often said that a mother will do anything to protect her child, but few fictional moms go as far as Alba does to prove it. Many of the characters’ choices are morally dubious, but always properly motivated. This creates a desire to root for the protagonist, even when she pushes moral boundaries. The extreme nature of the situation also helps to forgive the character, though not entirely.

Baya adds an extra layer of richness to her character thanks to her impassioned performance. As someone who enters the story already strained by the situation she was fleeing from, it doesn’t take long for the character to begin to completely unravel. Baya brings all the stress and pain of her character to life.

Ava Baya drives home Alba’s determination as the action takes its toll.

As Alba’s actions begin to cost her the very thing she holds dear, Baya drives home the character’s determination, while also exposing her vulnerability. In critical moments, Baya ensures that her character’s motivations are clear, and her emotional state is always on display. 

The other standout character is Alba’s son, Leo. As a child who has grown up in less than ideal circumstances, he shows a level of maturity that would be surprising in many children. How he confronts his mother at key moments gives the character a presence that’s hard to pull off at such a young age. 

But while he can see through things and process more than many his age, the writing never forgets that he is still a child. When threats, violence, and danger present themselves, Leo is always looking for his mother. Despite the struggles the pair faces, he knows she loves him above all else, and there is frequently a sense of safety brought to the character the moment Alba swoops in.

Under a Dark Sun’s visuals are often too withdrawn to fully capture the depth of the narrative.

Despite how driven many of the characters and narratives are, much of Under a Dark Sun‘s presentation feels too withdrawn to do them justice. The camera work is often too distant to fully capture key moments. This regularly leaves the biggest scenes in a strange mixture of narratively satisfying, but visually underwhelming. 

The same is also true for the series’ score. While ominous music plays at the right times, it never fully commits to moments, often appearing more as a lingering thought at the edge of hearing, rather than an element that truly uplifts the show’s scenes. 

Under a Dark Sun delivers a multi-layered story that comes together in some aspects, but not others. The characters and narrative coalesce to form a tense and compelling tale that, however, never fully materializes due to presentational shortcomings. Despite these hiccups, it is a story well worth watching for thriller fans. 

Under a Dark Sun is streaming now on Netflix.