Beta Vulgaris

In her vivid debut, Beta Vulgaris, Margie Sarsfield follows Elise, a young woman whose seasonal job harvesting sugar beets in Minnesota takes a surreal twist. Alongside her boyfriend, Tom, she hopes to earn enough to cover their Brooklyn rent, but soon faces unsettling threats, a peculiar rash, and eerie voices from the beet pile. As coworkers begin to disappear, Elise must confront her troubling past and an uncertain future, all while navigating the unsettling allure of the beets. This biting and eerie narrative explores themes of class, trauma, and consumption, offering a unique perspective on redemption.