shhazam2

Despite the director Atom Egoyan's misuse and overuse of flashbacks and flash forwards, this movie contained a great story.

A terrible tragedy from which there was no emotional relief for the survivors except the chance for one to exact punishment for incest and child abuse.

This story could have been told almost strictly chronologically from before the accident to after the accident without misusing the flashback technique and saving that technique for some of the background of the attorney which was still very well played by Ian Holm.

Be patient with this movie and forgiving of the flash back misuse and you will have seen a gem of a story told about a tragic happening.

Please rest assured that this little gem of a western will be very appealing to you. Having past it by many times for more modern films, I viewed it on a whim and was very pleased. A straight forward story of hate being defeated, love being found, loneliness lost and adversity faced. Easy to understand for any viewer requiring no interpretation. A gem well played by all actors. The stark scenery that others have noted as being filmed in Israel provides a great background for this simple story. The evils of bigotry and prejudice towards native Americans is well covered and evaluated without being preachy. Subjugation of women during this early western period is also exposed for its cruelty.