God's Own Country

One of the most powerful films I've seen in years, with fearless and authentic lead performances from Josh O'Connor and Alec Secareanu and beautiful, understated writing and direction from Francis Lee. Lee says more in a wordless scene than many filmmakers do in a whole feature.

Joshua James Richards shoots Yorkshire with a cinematic quality rarely seen in British film and operates his hand-held camera with an empathy and intuitiveness that allows him to capture many astonishingly intimate and truthful moments of performance.

It's these telling and tender moments which make up the film - small gestures that carry huge emotional weight. It is testament to Lee's writing and direction, and the performances of his entire cast, that these small moments (a glance, fingertips touching...) carry such a large emotional weight.

One wouldn't think that Ang Lee's seminal "Brokeback Mountain" would be ripe for a remake already, but damned if first time feature director Francis Lee hasn't moved the action from the American West to the hills of Yorkshire, England and come up with a comparable film. Recently screened at the 60th Annual San Francisco International Film Festival, "God's Own Country" is the tale of young sheep farmer Johnny Saxby (Josh O'Connor) struggling to keep his family farm going while avoiding coming to terms with his sexuality. Salvation (in many ways) arrives in the form of a Romanian emigrant worker, played by Alec Secareanu.

The film is awaiting a commercial release so a full review isn't possible but let me say that the film is terrifically acted, beautifully shot, occasionally erotic and gut-punchingly emotional. It doesn't skirt away from the realities of the harshness of either farm life or the challenges of living as a gay man in a rural community. Thick accents make the film difficult to understand at times, but a scene between Johnny and his father (Ian Hart) that culminates in two crystal-clear words will make you shudder.

There are some striking similarities to the Lee adaptation of the Annie Proulx story (shirt smelling, again?), but it stands on its own and is, in some ways, an improvement. The ending, in particular, is significantly more uplifting. It also has something to say about the value of immigrants that could stand to be heard in this country.

This is one to look for in a few months at your local independent or art house theater.

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Absolutely stunning film that is now right up there among my all-time favourites. It's sensual and romantic; and raw and ugly at the same time which is actually quite an accomplishment. The partnership between O'Connor and Secareanu is incredibly effective; the magnificent Ian Hart made me cry and Gemma Jones is amazing as well. Along with a breathttaking scenery and the haunting melodies of A Winged Victory for the Sullen, it's truly a film to remember and cherish.

For a Romanian viewer, the presence of Alec Secareanu in a film, who has in its basic themes homosexuality, it is a challenge. for a large public, it is a version of "Brockeback Mountain". for many, its cold beauty, the delicate force of story are the basic virtues. in fact, it is a beautiful film. too complex and too good for be reduced at a precise verdict. a film about solitude, friendship and love. a film about the need to be near the other. seductive for the care for details and realism. a question to public about small, fundamental truth. well acted. and source of a very personal emotion. so, one of films who must see it.

After seeing this at the Galway Film Fleadh, I can honestly say that this film is a beautiful standout that deserves more than to be called the "British Brokeback Mountain". While the comparisons between the two films were inevitable, God's Own Country offers different things than Ang Lee's classic. It speaks to more current issues of gay young men in a modern rural area, masterfully incorporating themes of identity issues, immigrant problems, and familial expectations. It's not a remake of the classic, it's an advancement of the genre that Brokeback Mountain helped define.

The most dazzling part of this film is the two young leads, Josh and Alec. It has been many, many years since I have seen a film where two individuals had as much chemistry between them, and the work that Josh and Alec put in to their character leaves the audience deeply and emotionally connected to both characters throughout the entirety of the movie. I could feel the lust between the two when they were on stage, and the heartbreak that happens when a fight occurs. The emotional performances by the two leads make the great movie even better.

Props must also be given to Francis Lee-- as a first time director, this is not the movie we in the audience were expecting. It was as masterful, as poignant, and as beautiful as any established director could have done. It was an honor to watch this film, and I cannot wait to follow the career of the director-- after what he did here, I know much more greatness is on the way.

I have not stopped thinking about this film for 3 days after I saw it. It won't leave me for a long time, because there is so much to thing about and so much to celebrate. I cannot wait to see it again, and I encourage you to see it as soon as you possibly can- - this is what independent cinema can look like when done masterfully!