LAND
****
Director: Robin Wright
Screenplay: Jesse Chatham and Erin Dignam
Principal cast:
Robin Wright
Demián Bichir
Kim Dickins
Sarah Dawn Pledge
Warren Christie
Brad Leland
Country: USA/Canada
Classification: M
Runtime: 89 mins.
Australian release date: 29 April 2021.
Land is the directorial debut of actress Robin Wright and she also plays the central character, a woman from Chicago suffering existential pain after the tragic death of her family, who retreats to the wilderness as a way of coping with the enormity of her grief. Set in the mountains of Wyoming (actually, it was filmed on Moose Mountain in Alberta, Canada), it’s a location that is as beautiful as it is harsh and unforgiving. The film shows how, when faced with overwhelming loss, this woman sought solace in isolation, choosing to be “alone with her pain,” and how the experience helped her to live with her loss. Paradoxically, learning how to cope with the extreme forces of nature inherent to the region and the wild animals that inhabit it, teaches her how to live again.
Much to the concern of her sister Emma (Kim Dickins), Edee (Robin Wright) has decided to relocate to the mountains to live ‘off the grid’. When she collects the keys to a rustic cabin, she asks that her hire car be collected because she no longer wants it. This request is understandably seen as a rash decision, as the removal of the vehicle means the removal of an escape route should it becomes necessary. She also tosses her phone away after assuring Emma that she does not intend to commit suicide. Edee is obviously not adept at coping with life on the land, as seen very early on, when she unsuccessfully attempts to chop wood and ends up having to eat food straight from a can. The arrival of a large black bear adds to her feeling of inadequacy. Almost succumbing to exposure, she is found by a hunter, Miguel (Demián Bichir), who, when asked how he found her, merely says, “You were in my path.” She accepts his offer to teach her the skills she will need in order to survive and to source food from the land. Gradually, Edee and Miguel form a friendship, as both have experienced tragedy and they understand and respect each other’s sense of loss. Miguel’s constant refrain is the Tears for Fears song ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World,’ which illustrates both his and Edee’s desire to come to terms with their private sorrow, each in their own way.
Land is an impressive inaugural work. Given very little dialogue in the spare script, Wright’s face expresses her character’s emotions through sheer passion and skill, which is beautifully captured in the lens of Bobby Bukowski. Mexican actor Bichir also delivers a great performance as a gentle man who has come to terms with his own pain and wants to help Edee as she works through hers, sharing his generosity of spirit. He has found solace in nature and wants her to find it too. With a fascinating score by composer/cellist/vocalist Ben Sollee and the members of string trio Time for Three, plus a surprising twist at the end of the film, it successfully delivers its message of compassion and sympathy. Wright summed it up best when she explained, “Land is a story of personal transformation out of tragedy and loss. We couldn’t know when we were making it that a global pandemic would leave people grieving all over the world. I can’t and don’t presume that this film can speak to what they’re going through. Land is a story about one person’s experience dealing with extreme adversity. I hope that it inspires audiences to believe in their own resilience and the capacity we all have to shine a light with simple kindness.”
Screenplay: Jesse Chatham and Erin Dignam
Principal cast:
Robin Wright
Demián Bichir
Kim Dickins
Sarah Dawn Pledge
Warren Christie
Brad Leland
Country: USA/Canada
Classification: M
Runtime: 89 mins.
Australian release date: 29 April 2021.
Land is the directorial debut of actress Robin Wright and she also plays the central character, a woman from Chicago suffering existential pain after the tragic death of her family, who retreats to the wilderness as a way of coping with the enormity of her grief. Set in the mountains of Wyoming (actually, it was filmed on Moose Mountain in Alberta, Canada), it’s a location that is as beautiful as it is harsh and unforgiving. The film shows how, when faced with overwhelming loss, this woman sought solace in isolation, choosing to be “alone with her pain,” and how the experience helped her to live with her loss. Paradoxically, learning how to cope with the extreme forces of nature inherent to the region and the wild animals that inhabit it, teaches her how to live again.
Much to the concern of her sister Emma (Kim Dickins), Edee (Robin Wright) has decided to relocate to the mountains to live ‘off the grid’. When she collects the keys to a rustic cabin, she asks that her hire car be collected because she no longer wants it. This request is understandably seen as a rash decision, as the removal of the vehicle means the removal of an escape route should it becomes necessary. She also tosses her phone away after assuring Emma that she does not intend to commit suicide. Edee is obviously not adept at coping with life on the land, as seen very early on, when she unsuccessfully attempts to chop wood and ends up having to eat food straight from a can. The arrival of a large black bear adds to her feeling of inadequacy. Almost succumbing to exposure, she is found by a hunter, Miguel (Demián Bichir), who, when asked how he found her, merely says, “You were in my path.” She accepts his offer to teach her the skills she will need in order to survive and to source food from the land. Gradually, Edee and Miguel form a friendship, as both have experienced tragedy and they understand and respect each other’s sense of loss. Miguel’s constant refrain is the Tears for Fears song ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World,’ which illustrates both his and Edee’s desire to come to terms with their private sorrow, each in their own way.
Land is an impressive inaugural work. Given very little dialogue in the spare script, Wright’s face expresses her character’s emotions through sheer passion and skill, which is beautifully captured in the lens of Bobby Bukowski. Mexican actor Bichir also delivers a great performance as a gentle man who has come to terms with his own pain and wants to help Edee as she works through hers, sharing his generosity of spirit. He has found solace in nature and wants her to find it too. With a fascinating score by composer/cellist/vocalist Ben Sollee and the members of string trio Time for Three, plus a surprising twist at the end of the film, it successfully delivers its message of compassion and sympathy. Wright summed it up best when she explained, “Land is a story of personal transformation out of tragedy and loss. We couldn’t know when we were making it that a global pandemic would leave people grieving all over the world. I can’t and don’t presume that this film can speak to what they’re going through. Land is a story about one person’s experience dealing with extreme adversity. I hope that it inspires audiences to believe in their own resilience and the capacity we all have to shine a light with simple kindness.”