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IMDbPro

Sous l'aile des anges

Original title: The Better Angels
  • 2014
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Diane Kruger and Braydon Denney in Sous l'aile des anges (2014)
The story of Abraham Lincoln's childhood in the harsh wilderness of Indiana and the hardships that shaped him, the tragedy that marked him forever, and the two women who guided him to immortality.
Play trailer1:07
2 Videos
32 Photos
BiographyDramaHistory

The story of Abraham Lincoln's childhood in the harsh wilderness of Indiana and the hardships that shaped him, the tragedy that marked him for ever and the two women who guided him to immort... Read allThe story of Abraham Lincoln's childhood in the harsh wilderness of Indiana and the hardships that shaped him, the tragedy that marked him for ever and the two women who guided him to immortality.The story of Abraham Lincoln's childhood in the harsh wilderness of Indiana and the hardships that shaped him, the tragedy that marked him for ever and the two women who guided him to immortality.

  • Director
    • A.J. Edwards
  • Writer
    • A.J. Edwards
  • Stars
    • Jason Clarke
    • Diane Kruger
    • Brit Marling
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    1.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • A.J. Edwards
    • Writer
      • A.J. Edwards
    • Stars
      • Jason Clarke
      • Diane Kruger
      • Brit Marling
    • 20User reviews
    • 31Critic reviews
    • 53Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:07
    Official Trailer
    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 1:57
    Theatrical Trailer
    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 1:57
    Theatrical Trailer

    Photos32

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    Top cast33

    Edit
    Jason Clarke
    Jason Clarke
    • Tom Lincoln
    Diane Kruger
    Diane Kruger
    • Sarah Lincoln
    Brit Marling
    Brit Marling
    • Nancy Lincoln
    Wes Bentley
    Wes Bentley
    • Mr. Crawford
    Braydon Denney
    Braydon Denney
    • Abe
    Cameron Williams
    • Dennis
    McKenzie Blankenship
    • Sally
    Ryan McFall
    • Johnny
    Madison Stiltner
    • Matilda
    Bruce Bayard
    • Uncle Thomas
    Veanne Cox
    Veanne Cox
    • Aunt Elizabeth
    Robert Vincent Smith
    Robert Vincent Smith
    • Reverend Elkins
    Adam Marton Teters
    • Ben
    • (as Adam Tetters)
    Ida Joy
    • Young School Girl
    Riley Brutvan
    • William
    Alana Collopy
    • Lucia
    Byron Bradley
    • Josiah
    Joe Webber
    • Charles
    • Director
      • A.J. Edwards
    • Writer
      • A.J. Edwards
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews20

    6.01.5K
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    Featured reviews

    JohnDeSando

    Impressive in many ways.

    "The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature." Abe Lincoln

    If writer-director A. J. Edwards wanted to show in his biopic, The Better Angels, the influence of angelic women on young Abe Lincoln, he succeeded. This minimalist, dialogue-spare depiction of Lincoln's early life in the woods of Indiana is rife with beautiful shots of trees and sunlight, not to mention a pristine cabin, but mostly it is filled with the love and direction given by Nancy (Brit Marling) and Sarah Lincoln (Diane Kruger).

    Not much to do out there in the frontier but cut wood and think about ways to be a better human being. While the women chat with Abe about life, Tom Lincoln (Jason Clarke), his dad, contributes a considerable amount to Abe's tough mindedness, largely by testing Abe's patience with dad's harsh discipline.

    While this less-than-epic activity occurs, it is encased in gorgeous photography, black and white crisp, with light streaming through tall trees, frequently at low angle to emphasize the child's point of view. You could almost say it's a copy of Terrence Malick's work, and you'd be right because the ethereal cinematography of that master (Tree of Life, Badlands, for example) no doubt influenced Edwards, whose film is produced by Malick and with whom he has worked.

    On the other hand, the poetic images could be off putting for those who accuse Malick of being pretentious or just interested in painting rather than telling a story. I go where a director wants to take me—in this case, to a lyrical feeling about the early life of an immortalized leader.

    Although The Better Angels is mostly impressionism, symbolic shots couched in terse language, be it by actors or voice-over, the picture of young Abe up to his rural schooling seems spot on for the intense, brilliant, iconic president we have come to know. I'm impressed.

    "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother" Abe Lincoln
    zinkmariarose

    Artistic, But Without Substance

    The love Abraham Lincoln has for his mother and his step mother is ever-present throughout this film and stands at the forefront of his struggle in childhood. The opening quote of the movie is "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." This is very apparent for the rest of the film; his struggle living in Indiana and dealing with the death of his mother whom he very much loved. This movie is extremely dreamlike and poetic, however, its effectiveness as a full length film seems unnecessary. This film is a unique artistic look at Abraham's childhood and his relationships with important women in his life, but its obvious low-budget nature and minimalistic dialogue calls for a disappointment to all Lincoln fans. The film is set over a three-year period starting from when his family moves from Kentucky to Indiana. There is a philosophical nature to the movie that seems more relevant to the artistic audience than to the historical accuracy of the time. The movie is a visual work of art and for fans of Lincoln's biography and life, it is merely that. It is not to say that The Better Angels is not a beautifully clever visual to an artistic crowd wanting a glimpse into Lincoln's life, it just does not have the substance most Lincoln fans look for. The black and white film does a lot to give the feeling of the time of Abraham Lincoln's childhood and misfortunes, but does not provide complete accuracy and overview on Lincoln. Even though it wonderfully shows his father's hatred of his scholarly endeavors and his mother's influence, the minimalism of its dialogue prevents a full understanding of the historical context surrounding the time. His childhood is what drove his entire career and the inspiring political changes he enacted and these inspirations stemmed from his definite sense of education and his relationships with women.
    4paulwaidelich

    Slow, So Slooowwww

    In thoughtful movies that rely on dialog and story rather than CGI, sex and violence, there's an opportunity to craft meaningful character studies. The Better Angels forgoes the flash, even filming in black and white. The problem is, they didn't develop any characters. Particularly young Lincoln. Nothing happens. No one changes, except maybe Lincoln's father a little. The viewer slogs through the boredom of frontier life without any insight into young Lincoln. I don't need to see people shot, stabbed and punched. I don't need to see gratuitous sex or colorful explosions, flashy costumes or lively music. But if you're going to make a movie about an historical character, there has to be a story told that shapes the boy into a man. This movie is little more than a black and white home movie where NOTHING happens. Four stars is probably generous.
    10captaincastile

    I sank deep into this film and stepped back in time.

    This is one of the most extraordinary films I have ever seen. I've been pondering the experience for a couple of days. I really don't know how to express what I thought and felt while watching it. I fear that whatever I say will sound plastic, and it was not plastic at all. It was real. It fell just short of being living flesh.

    To start, I felt like I was really there with young Lincoln and his family. It was like visiting with them. The feeling became deeper as the film progressed.

    Black and white was the perfect choice for this film. The cinematography was in a class by itself. Orson Wells did not do any better when he filmed Citizen Kane.

    Many of the camera angles were new to me; and yet they were as comfortable as old shoes. The sound was just as extraordinary. The wind in the trees, the birds chirping in the fields all combined with the skilled use of the camera and drew me in.

    I've seen, as far as I know, every film ever made about Lincoln. He has been one of my heroes since I was a child. But, I've never seen one that covered his early childhood in such depth. Not necessarily depth of historical detail, but depth of experience; what he lived, thought and felt as a boy.

    I was surprised and pleased to see something of his early school years. And yes, they prayed in school and the teacher taught from the Bible. The one room schoolhouse was, to the best of my knowledge, accurately portrayed.

    If you question the reality of Christian teaching in early American schools, I suggest you Google up a copy of the first editions of McGuffey's Readers. You'll find them to be full of Christianity. That's the first editions; 1836 - 37. Not the later editions when the "gutting" of Christian teaching and principals was already having it's effect. More's the pity.

    The two women in young Lincoln's life were of course his two mothers.

    To watch Lincoln's mother touch and stroke his face and tousled hair was perhaps the most heart touching portrayal of a mother's love I have ever seen in film. Words were not needed; the love in her eyes and the touch of her hand said it all. No wonder Lincoln gave her so much praise.

    Following his mother's death, his step-mother eventually became just as close to him. She too, was an extraordinary woman.

    I disagree with the short shrift many film critics have given to Lincoln's father. He played as large a part in shaping Lincoln's character as did his two mothers. Lincoln Sr. is well represented here; and deservedly so.

    When I was a boy there was a time I would have given anything to hear my father say to me what Abe's father says to him toward the end of the film. Of course I won't give it away, but I'll tell you it's worth waiting for.

    I don't know if anyone connected with the film will ever read this, but if they do, I want to express my thanks and let you know I'm grateful for for work and care you put into "The Better Angels." I can honestly say that I think I'm a bit better for having seen it.

    If you have not yet see this work of love, please do. I think you'll consider it to be time very well spent.
    6loveydoveyy

    My new opinion on black and white films.

    My first opinion for this movie is that it has beautiful cinematography by having the screen move in different directions and having a variety of shots. Even though it is in black and white, I find that the movie captures the lighting and darkness really well. The sounds effects for the movie is really amplified for example the crunching of the leaves or birds chirping, likewise for the soundtrack it made the movie more calming and beautiful with the violin or piano playing. The movie didn't have a lot of dialogue beside the narrator's voice of Abraham. It didn't sound like him either since it was more southern and not as high pitched. A better representation of Abraham's voice could be Daniel Day-Lewis's in Spielberg's Lincoln (2012) which is more high-pitched. I also find that the movie also explains Abraham Lincoln's life and his relationships with his family and friends very accurately, which the movie centers more on the interactions with his mother, step mother, and father. The actor that played Abraham didn't seem to show much emotions or show any personality traits throughout the movie for example, there was a lot of scenes that just focuses on his face with no emotions. Overall, I don't usually watch a black and white movie however, I enjoyed watching this since it was entertaining and wasn't dull or tedious to watch.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Coproduced by Jake DeVito, son of Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman
    • Soundtracks
      Symphony No. 8
      By Anton Bruckner

      Performed by National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, conducted by Georg Tintner (as Georg Tintner)

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    FAQ18

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • April 13, 2022 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Better Angels
    • Filming locations
      • Mohonk Preserve, New Paltz, New York, USA(woods, trails, fields, streams)
    • Production company
      • Brothers K Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $70,918
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,246
      • Nov 9, 2014
    • Gross worldwide
      • $70,918
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 35m(95 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital

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