The Tenth Straw

In a remote, turn-of-the-century rural community grappling with dwindling resources, The Tenth Straw meticulously chronicles the escalating tension around a critical annual lottery. This isn't a game of chance for luxury, but a grim draw for the last, life-sustaining share of a communal harvest, a tradition enforced by the stern, unyielding village elder, played with simmering intensity by Syd Everett. The narrative's core revolves around Elara (Peggy Paul), a young woman burdened by the care of her ailing younger sibling, whose family’s survival hinges entirely on the outcome of this single, desperate draw. As the day approaches, the film explores the psychological toll on the villagers, revealing their frayed morality and the stark choices they confront. James Cornell embodies the pragmatic, yet conflicted, local leader attempting to maintain order, while Jack Fisher's performance as a cynical outsider subtly questions the very foundation of their harsh customs, forcing Elara to confront not just the lottery, but the deeper injustices woven into the fabric of her world.