Quietly affecting and beautifully shot, Land tells of withdrawal and redemption. Robin Wright’s work in front and behind the camera dispenses information in an almost Zen-like fashion and the emotions feel real. This is her feature length film directorial debut. Wright plays Edee, a woman whose life has been broken into tiny shards by a horrific event.
We are given few details about the actual cause but as the story progresses, small details coalesce into a narrative of a person so broken she feels she must retreat into absolute solitude. She does this by uprooting what is left of her life and moving to an isolated cabin deep in the woods of Wyoming, the least populated state in America.
Once there it becomes quickly obvious that she is almost completely unprepared for a life in the wild. There is a stark contrast between the stunning beauty of the land and the woeful condition of the cabin she has chosen. Once there, things turn bad, leading to a near-death experience when she is discovered by Miguel (Demián Bichir).
Their emerging relationship is beautifully rendered. Miguel also has a dark secret at his core but he is a practical man whose outdoor skills are well developed. The two connect on a teacher and student level. You become close to Edee and the fright of her inexperience. You also revel in the emergence of her climb from the darkness. This satisfying journey is conveyed with consummate skill.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU
