There are no cowboys in this supremely confident, simmering drama of German-Bulgarian discord, but the spirit of the Western as a template for frontier conflict prevails. A study of economic imperialism and toxic masculinity made by a woman.
One of the films of the year has arrived – maybe the best of the year – a work of unmatched subtlety, complexity and artistry. – The Guardian ★★★★★
An intense, slow-burning thriller, Western follows a group of German construction workers installing a hydroelectric plant in remote rural Bulgaria. The foreign land awakens the men’s sense of adventure, but tensions mount when, Meinhard, the strong, silent and newcomer to the group, starts mixing with the local villagers. The two sides speak different languages and share a troubled history. Can they learn to trust each other — or is the stage being set for a showdown?
Valeska Grisebach follows her 2006 award-winner Longing with this contemporary western.
Beautifully complicated, rigorously straightforward. There is no doubting Ms. Grisebach’s filmmaking… as precise as a dropped pin on a GPS map, which makes its sense of mystery all the more powerful. – The New York Times Critics Pick
A mesmerising study of men on the edge. – The Telegraph ★★★★★
There are no stagecoaches or six-shooters in this sharp, simmering drama of German-Bulgarian discord, but the spirit of John Ford graces it. – Variety
Germany, 2017 |Language: German, Bulgarian | 119 minutes | Cert: CLUB
Director: Valeska Grisebach
Cast: Meinhard Neumann, Reinhardt Wetrek, Syuleyman Alilov Letifov
