“Land”

(Canada/USA)

Metacritic (7/10) and Rotten Tomatoes (***+)

When a woman’s life falls apart, she’s at a loss to repair it or to share her pain with others, circumstances that prompt her to emotionally and physically withdraw and, subsequently, to move to the Wyoming wilderness, a place where she can choose to live – or not – despite the intervention of Samaritans who want to help and give her hope. Actress Robin Wright’s feature film directorial debut tells this heart-tugging story capably, even if somewhat conventionally and with character development that definitely could have benefitted from supplemental strengthening. Nevertheless, thanks to Wright’s strong lead performance, stunning cinematography, nicely sustained pacing and a solid finish, this offering certainly shines in the areas where it matters most. This may not be earth-shattering filmmaking, but it’s certainly an impressive start to a budding career.