“God’s Country”The latest film in a new trend of reimagining the Western and thriller is this one. This film also has Black leads. Thandiwe Newton is an Emmy nominee for 2018. “Westworld,” stars as Sandra Guidry in an adaptation of James Lee Burke’s 1992 short story “Winter Light”The story of a college professor who is drawn into a fight with two hunters who invade her Montana property.
Julian Higgins’ feature-length debut for the core story is his second attempt at it. Higgins directed an original short of the name in 2015 with a white older male lead. The narrative is clearly different with a Black female star, but it’s not clear if Higgins and Shaye Ogbonna (a Black male writer) can create a story worthy of her troubles.
Sandra is a grieving mother who just lost her mother. As far as the eye can tell, she is also a single woman of color who lives in an isolated part of the country. This raises concerns about her choice. The U.S. is technically free, but it is not as safe as it is for Americans of color than it is for white Americans. Safety, not just redlining, is a major reason why Black Americans have gathered together. Safety is a problem for many women. Sandra was once a New Orleans cop. It is implied that she is stronger, more fearless, and perhaps more equipped than other females to confront the two trespassers.
To that end, Sandra takes charge by singlehandedly towing the hunters’ truck off her property. When that doesn’t deter them, she enlists the sheriff, even brazenly accompanying him as he questions the men, letting them know that she and she alone is the complainant. Sandra’s advocacy for herself is fine, but it makes Sandra a target.
Adding more intrigue — or perhaps concern is more apt in the point of the story — is that Sandra appears to become the aggressor, even inviting caricatured Karen comparisons. Sandra chides her neighbour and colleague for not being bothered about the men’s presence on their property. Some of Sandra’s actions also hint of outsider entitlement, in which those new to a community feel they can change it at will, ignoring established traditions and customs. That doesn’t necessarily mean that Sandra deserves what comes to her, only that she may have stoked the fire to accelerate its occurrence.
Sandra is a rare professor of color in a male-dominated environment. “God’s Country”Other issues are also explored. She is demonstrating the courage that many people in academia exhibit despite the fear of being retaliated for challenging her colleagues on diversity issues. In the #MeToo arena, Sandra does in fact overstep when a graduate assistant confides in her about no longer wanting to work for a powerful professor whom she feels is crossing the line. Instead of respecting the victim’s comfort level, Sandra gives into her ego and sets out to best him, betraying the young woman’s confidence.
These elements indicate that there is a lot to be excited about. “God’s Country”Provocative, it raises critical questions about boundaries and environmental stewardship. It’s a slow process that requires patience and attention. Jefferson White is Newton’s main companion (“Yellowstone”) and Joris Jarsky (“The Little Things”Jeremy Bobb is the acting sheriff, Jeremy Bobb plays the role of the hunters“Godless,” which shares some similarities to this film), and Kai Lennox as her neighbor and ringleader at work, the weight of this film is on Newton’s shoulders. She delivers, as usual.
Sandra is a complex Black woman character that many have praised. But the film’s success might just boil down to whether or not you find her choices believable for her circumstance and geographic location. Also, because there is no clear, unequivocal victory at the end, the question left hanging is: Was any of this worth Sandra’s trouble in the first place? Is she losing too much to justify the fight?
“God’s Country”The 2022 Sundance Film Festival will host its world premiere.