Recap: Jean and her daughter Griff flees after Jean's boyfriend hit her one time to many. With some struggles, and little money they manage to get to her father-in-law Einar, Griff's granddad. But the welcome isn't what you might expect. Einar's son and Jean's husband died and Einar blames Jean. Against his own will he lets them stay for some time. On the ranch also lives Mitch, crippled after being mauled by a bear. The bear now recently captured and put in a local zoo. And soon the abusive boyfriend turns up. This is a drama between a lot of parts; Jean, Einar, Griff, Mitch and not to forget the bear. This is the story how a family slowly and painfully heals deep, ancient but still open, wounds.
Comments: This is quite a different drama by Hallström. Normally we would be introduced to a story, then follow it until some sort of resolve or conclusion. Now instead we get a portrait in time, starting at one point and ending later. We get to follow not one, not two, but many story-threads that tangle and interact during this timeframe. We never get to see the introductions, nor the resolves, we only get to follow them during a dramatic time. Therefore it is actually a little hard to say what really happens in the movie. Nothing does. Everything does. The best answer might be: Life does. Though it is hard to put the finger on some single key events the movie is never dull or boring. It is a charming, warm and engaging tale of a family.
There is a really good cast here, with a lot of known actors and actresses. Not surprisingly though it is the two veterans Redford and Freeman that really steals the shows. Their interaction is great, full of warmth and friendship.
In all it is a very successful movie, and even if dramas are not your thing normally, this might be something for you...
7/10
Comments: This is quite a different drama by Hallström. Normally we would be introduced to a story, then follow it until some sort of resolve or conclusion. Now instead we get a portrait in time, starting at one point and ending later. We get to follow not one, not two, but many story-threads that tangle and interact during this timeframe. We never get to see the introductions, nor the resolves, we only get to follow them during a dramatic time. Therefore it is actually a little hard to say what really happens in the movie. Nothing does. Everything does. The best answer might be: Life does. Though it is hard to put the finger on some single key events the movie is never dull or boring. It is a charming, warm and engaging tale of a family.
There is a really good cast here, with a lot of known actors and actresses. Not surprisingly though it is the two veterans Redford and Freeman that really steals the shows. Their interaction is great, full of warmth and friendship.
In all it is a very successful movie, and even if dramas are not your thing normally, this might be something for you...
7/10