DAVID ADAMS watches Robin Wright’s directorial debut, ‘LAND’…
LAND (AU – M/US – PG-13)
In a word: Enriching
Demián Bichir (left) stars as Miguel and Robin Wright (right) stars as Edee in LAND. PICTURE: Daniel Power/Focus Features
Set in the mountains of Wyoming, Robin Wright’s directorial debut, LAND is a study in the impact of grief and the importance others can play in the long journey back from the precipice of despair.
Wright, who first appeared on the big screen as Princess Buttercup in The Princess Bride and whose more recent acting credits include playing Amazon warrior Antiope in Wonder Woman and the rather nasty Claire Underwood in House of Cards, plays Edee Holzer, a woman who, facing a mysterious tragedy, relocated into the mountains to live her life in total seclusion, away from all human contact.
“It’s a stripped back story – we’re given very few details of Edee’s life – but then Land isn’t about the storyline as much as about the emotions it evokes.”
Determined to be alone, Edee cuts off all connection with the outside world as she struggles to survive in the harsh mountain winter with limited knowledge of how to do so.
It’s when she’s at her lowest point that Edee encountered Miguel (Demián Bichir), a stranger who, with the help of his friend, a nurse named Alawa (Sarah Dawn Pledge), do what they can to lead her back to the light.
While the mountain scenery is nothing short of majestic – with plenty of wide lingering shots, it’s the beauty of the human experience – Eadie and her relationship, in particular, with Miguel which is the focal point of this film.
It’s a stripped back story – we’re given very few details of Edee’s life – but then Land isn’t about the storyline as much as about the emotions it evokes.
A powerful performance by Wright and an equally impressive directorial entree in what ultimately is a beautiful depiction of the human experience.
