You don’t know Bertha

South Dakota audiences will be the first to know Bertha Constantine during the world premiere of 2008 alumnus Andrew Kightlinger's short film, You Don't Know Bertha Constantine.

The film will be shown during one of the Reel Dakota Film Society's monthly independent film screenings at 7 p.m. tonight at the Washington Pavilion. Kightlinger will also host a special screening at 7 p.m. Friday, April 29 in the GSC auditorium.

You Don't Know Bertha Constantine follows the trials and tribulations of a widow, played by former Augustana theatre professor Julia Bennett, as she tries to honor her husband's wish to be buried in the Badlands.

"Andrew is a genuine talent," Bennett said. "This beautiful role is a gift for any actor. I'm honored Andrew chose me to bring Bertha to life."

Through the film, Kightlinger wanted to show the power of grief and its many forms.

"Grief is as natural as the earth around us and we all deal with grief in our own ways," Kightlinger said. "You can never overcome it, but you can certainly live with it and use it to your advantage."

Kightlinger used his own experiences dealing with the death of his mother four years ago to fuel the narrative.

"Bertha's no-holds-barred journey in the film parallels my journey in the last four years: Don't stop until you get what you want," Kightlinger said. "The mood of the film conveys that sense of loss mixed with intense determination. My mother's spirit is still propelling me forward."

Kightlinger wrapped up filming of Bertha last summer and has since been working on editing the film. He worked with a colorist to make the landscape appear more desolate and enhanced the sound to create the right atmosphere.

"Sound is sort of the ugly stepchild of film and it largely goes unnoticed, although most people would flip if the sound was bad in a movie," Kightlinger said. "We take it for granted but it's really the sixth sense of filmmaking."

Kightlinger's film will be paired with the feature film Small Town Murder Songs. The film shows a police officer in a small, Mennonite town in Ontario who investigates a brutal murder.

Reel Dakota director Julie Anderson Friesen thought the two films would work well together in both content and atmosphere.

"In both films, wide open spaces play a role. They are a character," Anderson Friesen said. "Both characters are also walking the edge of the law."

Small Town Murder Songs was written and directed by Canadian Ed Gass-Donnelly who Variety magazine named one of the top ten directors to watch.