Land

A woman in despair after a tragedy retreats to a cabin in the mountains to live alone.

Robin Wright directs her own performance, spending much time onscreen alone and silent as a woman struggling to survive both in relation to the wilderness and her own pain. Her performance always rings true emotionally, and the beats of her transformation are lucid. The landscape is beautifully filmed, the landscapes are vast, the winter is bitterly cold and the wilderness is living and breathing; though her interaction with it, her struggle to chop wood and hunt deer, the physical realities of her life, a very superficially depicted. The beauty and tangibility of the world is so real that I can't help but want to believe in her relationship with it. But the ultimate impact, of a woman struggling with significant emotional turmoil and despair, is real and her transformations and relationships are moving.

First of all, I want to say how good it was to see a newly released movie on the big screen. I missed "going" to the movies. This may very well prejudice this review. This was a beautiful movie, epic in landscape, quiet in thought, skillful in silent performance. Filmed in the Canadian Rockies (or as Robin Wright said, "the Alberta mountains"), the location is equally a character. It has garnered many film festival accolades and I've heard it described as Wright's greatest work. It definitely was her work. She produced, performed and directed it. It is a beautiful piece of film making. I give this film an 8 (beautiful) out of 10. {Drama}

LAND is a touching study of a woman steeped in grief, determined to leave life behind in the midst of a devastating happening. Robin Wright effectively directs from an angle of isolation, both of place and of mind. It's a solid directorial debut and a raw, emotional performance. A lot of moments and scenarios feel familiar, and while that hinders the overall experience, LAND is so beautifully shot with such deeply heartfelt performances that it earns a lot of respect by the end. The film's biggest achievement is the its second half, and the subtle way it works through grief and pain in restrained, tender moments.

For a drama like this there was some nice mystery and tension too. The landscape and cinematography was amazing. The simple yet effective cast was convincing. I got a bit teary eyed.

This is a beautiful film about people, about loss and about how people try to cope with that loss. Robin Wright's protagonist chooses to go away, escaping everything and everybody.

Land is a great reminder that the budget of a good movie doesn't have to be huge; you can tell an interesting story without expensive sets and an enormous cast and crew.

I wouldn't have thought that it would be a good idea to star in your own directorial debut, but Robin Wright comes out perfectly fine, both as an actor and as a director.

Demián Bichir does a beautifully understated performance in the supporting role of Miguel, and while the sets are not expensive, they often present breathtaking mountain vistas.

Land is definitely worth watching.