Day
115 God’s
Own Country [2017]
Screenplay Francis Lee
Director Francis Lee
Cinematography Joshua James Richards
Music A
Winged Victory For The Sullen
Leads Josh
O’Connor, Alec Secareanu, Ian Hart, Gemma Jones
Production British Film Institute, Creative England, Met
Film Production, Shudder Films, Inflammable Films, Magic Bear Productions
IMDb 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes 99%
This
moody LGBT film is stocked full of sexual tension, frustration and anger. But also,
with tenderness, maturation and love. It made me fall in love with the British
countryside all over again with sweeping sullen wides of the moors in all their
beautiful glory. The film is about a young sheep farmer, Jonny Saxby (O’Connor),
who is beginning to take over the running of the farm from his disabled father
(Hart) and disapproving grandmother (Jones). He numbs himself by binge drinking
and casual sex until the arrival of a handsome Romanian farmhand, Gheorghe (Secareanu).
O’Connor plays the anguished young man with the ease of an actor well beyond
his years. There is little dialogue between Secareanu and O’Connor which points
towards extremely accomplished performances from both. Acting without speaking
is a wonderful skill to have, Steve McQueen in particular was very good at it,
being able to command the screen with subtle face movement and body language. I
should mention it is Francis Lee’s directorial debut – and what a debut. With
few characters, few locations and little dialogue he has created a beautiful
British film. It is only Richards’ second feature film behind the camera and he
has painted a picturesque picture of the gloomy Yorkshire weather with the
camera flitting between close-ups of facial expressions and long wides of sheep
roaming the hills. It didn’t quite do it for me overall, but I’m quite fussy,
and judging by the reviews it has received you may very much enjoy it.
Acting 3.5 / 4
Writing 3 / 4
Cinematography 3.5 / 4
Music 1 / 4
HWF rating 2.5
/ 4
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