Tuesday, July 10th, 2007

SWEETLAND on DVD

SWEETLAND is one of those hidden gems.  This film was made independently by first time director Ali Selim for a mere $1 million dollars, which is chump change by Hollywood standards.  SWEETLAND was a hit on the festival circuit and won the Independent Spirit Award for “Best First Feature.”  The DVD features extras including a “making of” featurette along with director and star commentaries. 

It is now available on DVD and really deserves to be discovered!

 
Synopsis:
SWEETLAND
Inge (Elizabeth Reaser) is a feisty German mail-order bride who has come to Minnesota to marry Olaf (Tim Guinee), a young Norwegian immigrant farmer of few words. But in a post-WWI, anti-German climate, the local minister (John Heard) openly forbids the marriage. Inge and Olaf fall in love despite the town’s disapproval. But when the town banker (Ned Beatty) attempts to foreclose on the farm of his friend Frandsen (Alan Cumming), Olaf takes a stand…and the community unites around the young couple, finally accepting Inge as one of their own. 

Watch the trailer and visit and official website!
See what the critics are saying:
“Demonstrating a mastery of the medium, writer-director Selim has crafted a tale of pure Americana that speaks both to the immigrant experience and the nature of love. Reaser breathes fire into (her) character.”
-Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter

“A visually indelible movie that’s a grand dream of the American past. Sweet Land is a movie of extraordinary tenderness.”
-Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

“A gorgeously realized romance.”
-Rob Nelson, Village Voice

“Sweet Land celebrates a gutsy, old-fashioned sort of love, which Mr. Selim lovingly presents in scene after scene of glorious 35-millimeter images.”
-Jeannette Catsoulis, The New York Times

”**** (Highest Rating)! A beautifully shot, sweetly crafted, finely acted film. Elizabeth Reaser is breathtakingly spot-on. Tim Guinee is wonderfully understated.”
-Clint O’Connor, Cleveland Plain Dealer

“A small, nearly perfect gem of a movie…don’t miss it.”
-Chris Hewitt, St. Paul Pioneer-Press

“Sweet Land is brave and touchingly executed cinematic storytelling that explores the lives of these immigrants with extraordinary insight.”
-Prairie Miller, WBAI Arts Magazine