Land is the kind of movie that doesn’t use many words to say a whole lot.

2 adults sitting on a rock

Barely hanging on after an unbearable loss, Edee goes off the grid and starts a new life by purchasing a piece of land up in the Rockies. With no phone, no car, no electricity, or indoor plumbing, Edee has completely disconnected from the world and that is just how she wants it to be. However, when something unexpected happens and leaves her near death, she is saved by a local hunter. As their friendship grows, not only does she learn how to survive in the Rockies, she also learns how to live again.

While Land isn’t the kind of movie I would have normally jumped at the chance to see, I found myself captivated by it all. Even without very many words at the beginning of the film (probably about 25 minutes or so worth of no speaking), I couldn’t look away. Part of that had to do with the fact that I was waiting for something bad to happen but that doesn’t matter because I was fully immersed. In fact, all of those quiet moments allowed me to get a better understanding of what she was experiencing.

I won’t say that the film is filled with action (because I would be lying) but it flowed nicely and kept me invested. While you don’t really know what exactly led to her decision, you do get bits and pieces of her loss throughout the movie. Thankfully, we do get an answer as to what actually happened that led to her heartbreak towards the end of the movie and I am thankful we got that closure. While that had everything to do with why Edee was up in the mountains, the movie wasn’t about what took place rather it was about how she was coping with it.

The location of the filming allowed for some really beautiful backdrops and the various seasons they experienced (along with Edee’s hair growth) gave us an idea as to how much time had passed. The imagery was so beautiful that I would love to experience it for myself….well, not for an extended period of time or without any of the amenities I have grown accustomed to but you get my point.

Overall Thoughts

I surprisingly really liked the movie. Despite extensive periods of no dialogue, the film didn’t drag. I can’t say that Land is a feel good movie because it is filled with some sadness and heart break but such is life and it provides an inside look at what grief can do to someone. It also reminds you that life is precious and that just being there for someone can make all the difference in the world.

Land is now in theaters!

Friendly warning that the song “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” by Tears For Fears may get stuck in your head for a bit after watching the film. Oh and if movie quotes are your thing, you can check out this list of Land Movie Quotes.

More about Land

From acclaimed actress Robin Wright comes her feature directorial debut LAND, the poignant story of one woman’s search for meaning in the vast and harsh American wilderness. Edee (Wright), facing unbearable demons, finds herself unable to stay connected to the world she once knew and 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.