The Levelling

Aubrey cannot accept Harry's suicide because doing so would mean acknowledging his own role in his son's death. James reveals that Harry and Aubrey had a fierce argument at a party about Harry taking on farm responsibilities, which placed immense pressure on him. By insisting the death was an accident, Aubrey protects himself from the guilt of believing his demands contributed to Harry's decision to end his life.

Earlier scenes show Aubrey retreating into silence and denial whenever Clover tries to discuss Harry, establishing his inability to confront painful truths.

The film doesn't explicitly explain why Harry buried the badgers, but the discovery occurs alongside revelations about his mental state. The buried badgers symbolize the hidden troubles Harry carried, much like the buried tension in the family. This discovery adds to the sense that Harry was struggling with burdens no one knew about.

Clover initially suspects Aubrey of burying the badgers, but learns it was Harry, foreshadowing that Harry carried secrets and struggles the family was unaware of.

Aubrey insists on culling the male calf because male calves have no economic value on a dairy farm, they cannot produce milk and would require feeding without returning profit. The farm is already in dire financial straits, with Aubrey planning to sell half the herd. This harsh decision reflects the brutal economics of farming and Aubrey's desperation to survive financially.

The financial troubles were earlier revealed when Clover discovers Aubrey's plan to sell half the herd, making the culling request feel consistent with his desperation.

Aubrey's breakdown stems from overwhelming grief combined with guilt and self-medication. On the morning of the funeral, he has been drinking heavily to numb his pain. When Clover discovers the missing gun key, she realizes something is wrong, but before she can act, Aubrey shoots several of his beloved cows. This act represents his complete emotional collapse, he cannot cope with Harry's death, his guilt over their argument, and the farm's failing state, so he destroys the one thing he has left to control.

The missing gun key earlier signals that Aubrey has reached a breaking point, and his self-medication has escalated from earlier scenes where he was already struggling to cope.

James tells Clover that the argument between Harry and Aubrey occurred at a party and involved intense pressure from Aubrey for Harry to take on farm responsibilities. Harry felt burdened by expectations to inherit and run the family farm, while Aubrey pushed him to commit to the agricultural lifestyle. This pressure contributed to Harry's mental state and ultimate decision.

This revelation explains why Aubrey cannot accept Harry's suicide, he knows his own demands played a role in his son's death.

The petrol cans in the kitchen represent the disorder and neglect on the farm following Harry's death. With Aubrey overwhelmed by grief, normal safety protocols have broken down. Clover's discovery raises immediate safety concerns, particularly when she later brings James into the home with these flammable liquids present. It underscores how the family has fallen into disarray.

This moment foreshadows the chaotic, unsafe environment that leads to Aubrey's later breakdown with the gun.

When Clover confronts Aubrey about the TB testing and the farm's troubles, he defensively blames her for leaving and not supporting the family. Aubrey's anger toward Clover stems from his own guilt and inability to process Harry's death. Rather than facing his shortcomings as a father, he redirects his frustration at Clover for being absent, even though she returned specifically to help during this crisis.

This confrontation leads to Aubrey throwing Clover out of the mobile home, showing how his grief has made him push away the one person trying to help.

The ending represents a tentative, fragile beginning of healing. After Aubrey's breakdown and the traumatic act of culling his herd, he begs Clover to return to university, revealing his deepest fear of being abandoned. When Clover asks "You're saying I should go?" she acknowledges the complexity of their situation. Their embrace in the muddy field, both crying, marks the first moment they share their grief openly rather than hiding behind denial or silence. It's hopeful but not resolved, they have started to confront their loss together, but the road ahead remains uncertain.

Throughout the film, Clover's attempts to connect with Aubrey are met with resistance. This embrace shows she has finally broken through his emotional walls through compassion rather than confrontation.

The farm is in severe financial difficulty. Aubrey has decided to sell half of the herd to raise money, indicating desperate straits. The arrival of Animal Health to test for tuberculosis adds another crisis, if the herd tests positive, they could face compulsory culling and further financial ruin. These mounting pressures contribute to the toxic atmosphere that helps explain the family's dysfunction and Harry's struggles.

The financial troubles explain why Aubrey makes harsh decisions like culling the calf and selling the herd, desperation drives his choices.