Direction: Julian Higgins
Country: USA
Adapted from James Lee Burke's short story Winter Light, God’s Country is a slow burning, above-average drama thriller that, being sharp in intention, probes into the wounded heart of a disconsolate woman. Director and co-writer Julian Higgins crafts a compelling framework to address discrimination and sexism with a mix of deep poignancy, retaliatory ferocity, and indelible damage.
Told over the course of seven days, the story is centered on Sandra (Thandiwe Newton), a grieving college teacher who lives at the edge of the forest in Western Montana. When her land is repeatedly trespassed by two local hunters, the reachable Nathan (Joris Jarsky) and the obnoxious Samuel (Jefferson White), she confronts them. She's determined to not allow them get their way, but the lack of support from the law and the locals makes her dive into a grey universe of anger and hurt. Can she still show complacency towards people with no respect?
God’s Country plays a minimalist pitch and puts all the emphasis on tone to achieve a sort of hypnotic enchantment. The message and feelings are there, and the picture plays more like a poignant indie drama rather than a rural western-style epic. With a large part of the success coming from Newton’s exemplary performance, there is so much that individuals can learn from this film.
