The Price of Milk (2000)

49% of critics liked it
(47 reviews)
67% of users liked it
(2,395 ratings)

New Zealand filmmaker Harry Sinclair turns to a more rural setting with this modern fairy tale centering on two lovers, Lucinda {($Danielle Cormack}) and Rob (Karl Urban), who live on a dairy farm in a quaint small town. On a standard errand one day, Lucinda accidentally hits an older woman on the… More New Zealand filmmaker Harry Sinclair turns to a more rural setting with this modern fairy tale centering on two lovers, Lucinda {($Danielle Cormack}) and Rob (Karl Urban), who live on a dairy farm in a quaint small town. On a standard errand one day, Lucinda accidentally hits an older woman on the road. The woman miraculously gets up unharmed and disappears, but soon afterward, Lucinda starts incorporating her fears into her current romantic relationship. In an effort to restore their romantic lives to a more exciting plane, Lucinda begins creating small conflicts on the advice of friend Drosophila (Willa O'Neill), hoping for instant results. One night, however, Rob and Lucinda are robbed by a Maori group, later revealed to be the nephews of the woman stricken in the car accident. The group steals a quilt, which Lucinda barters 117 of Rob's farm cows to get back. Meanwhile, Drosophila has attempted to steal Rob for herself, and Lucinda's plans turn out to work against her. Director Sinclair reportedly developed the story as an outline, with many elements devised as the film progressed during shooting. ~ Jason Clark, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Harry Sinclair
Written By: Harry Sinclair
Genres: Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 14, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Nov 19, 2002
Studio: Lot 47 Films

Critic Reviews

Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
It keeps flitting around -- as if it overdosed on fairy dust.
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
Adds up to considerably less than the sum of its parts.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Too bad that unconscious haunting quality is in no way conveyed by the story, which soon reveals itself not as magical but silly -- and even irritating.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
I was never much convinced by the romantic chemistry between Rob and Lucinda.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Seems to be grasping for lyricism and whimsy and just missing.
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
Sometimes it's pretty openly treading water while inspiration flags. But there's more to like than dislike in The Price of Milk.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
What starts as a dollop of eccentricity and whimsy grows into something that overwhelms the charming performances and romance.
Spence D., IGN Movies
This is a quaint and creative take on the modern romantic motif, a film that creates a world where subtle beauty and true love are more than enough to get by on.
David Nusair, Apollo Guide
Just too slight and too off-the-wall to ever become anything more than a mildly entertaining piece of fluff.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
This film features one dumb story line.
Lawrence Toppman, Charlotte Observer
The fairy tale ... works more often than not.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
There's a whimsical wit to the story that keeps you watching and makes you willing to forgive all the loose ends.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Sinclair is aware of natural spaces and silences and uses them to air out the movie and make it seem less a product and more lifelike.
Rob Blackwelder, SPLICEDWire
It's funny, it's endearing, it's very romantic, it's endlessly clever.
David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor
The movie would be more fun if it accompanied its imaginative story with imaginative acting and filmmaking.