Land Review: A Beautiful Film About Survival And Community

Release date: February 12, 2021
Running time: 89 minutes
Cast: Robin Wright, Demián Bichir, Kim Dickens
Director: Robin Wright
Writers: Jesse Chatham, Erin Dignam

From acclaimed actress Robin Wright comes her directorial debut LAND, the poignant story of one woman’s search for meaning in the vast and harsh American wilderness. Edee (Wright), in the aftermath of an unfathomable event, finds herself unable to stay connected to the world she once knew and in the face of that uncertainty, retreats to the magnificent, but unforgiving, wilds of the Rockies. After a local hunter (Demián Bichir) brings her back from the brink of death, she must find a way to live again.

Robin Wright picked an interesting film for her directorial debut.  The film, set in the Wyoming wilderness, really emphasizes the beauty of this natural setting.  As you would expect from a movie set in the Wyoming country, there are some absolutely stunning nature shots throughout.  You can't help but be in awe of the natural beauty of Edee's surroundings.  And it is not just the nature footage that will keep your interest.  The film has an exceptional soundtrack as well.  The world of Land--much like the natural setting it is based on--is filled with sound; you'll feel every animal, jump at every screech or growl, and marvel at the falling rain.  And these sounds also make it so that any scenes with civilization can feel overwhelming and chaotic compared to the serenity of nature.  And the wonderful sound doesn't just encompass nature.  The film has a great country music soundtrack to help fill the void and evoke emotion. 

Land starts off mysteriously, without much context.  Edee is out in the woods and hoping to survive on her own, but you don't' really understand why at first.  But even without the context, the first scenes of Land help to establish the natural setting and the beauty of her surroundings.  And in keeping with Edee's isolation and natural setting, the film starts with little to no dialogue.  Unlike a film like Dances With Wolves, where Costner narrated to himself regularly, I was struck by Land's lack of dialogue.  At the start, the only sounds you hear are nature sounds so in a way, you experience what Edee is feeling.  The isolation, nature, and beauty are all reflected back in this film.  And you also experience the harsh reality of life in the wilderness.  The film starts off idyllic with this wonderful back to nature feel, but when some of the harsher, crueler aspects of the wild life come into play, you feel just how cold this natural beauty can be.  

But one thing I loved about this film was Edee's perseverance.  No matter what happened and what hardships came her way, she continued to stick it out in the wilds.  And the film also shows the benefit of interactions and community.  In a film about living out in the wilderness and making it on your own, the film teaches a nice lesson about trusting others and relying on them.  But Edee's strength is also frustrating to the viewer, when she is stubborn at the start without more context.  Some of her decisions seem irrational without more information.  But there is no faulting the appeal of this lifestyle in our hyperconnected, always on world.  Seeing someone surviving on their own and connecting with nature has a charm all its own and this film captures that perfectly.  

Land will take you back to nature with its stunning wilderness cinematography, fantastic soundtrack, and harsh realities of life and survival. 

Watch it.

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Land will be released in theaters on February 12, 2021.

For showtimes, click here.

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