Review of God's Own Country (2017) by Jonathan B — 16 Sep 2017

God's Own Country takes the viewer on a powerful and moving story of how loneliness and isolation damages a young man and how this can be overcome by tenderness and companionship. The dour, bleak setting of an isolated and run down hill farm in the Yorkshire Moors sets the mood and almost becomes a character itself as young farmer Johnny (Josh O'Connor) struggles to keep the family concern going.

The relationship between Johnny, his disabled father and elderly grandmother are strained to say the least and the young man feels stifled and trapped by the situation he finds himself in. With lambing coming up, the family is forced to hire a young Romanian migrant worker, Gheorghe (Alec Secareanu) to help out.

As the pair work together, their relationship changes from one of mistrust and resentment to one of passion, understanding and love. A moving and thought-provoking film from writer/director Francis Lee, there are obvious parallels with Brokeback Mountain.

However, unlike the American tale which, great though it is, ends in a downbeat manner and is set in an era and society where love between two men would not be accepted, here we have a more hopeful and enlightened take on the situation.

Indeed, one of my favourite scenes is when after Johnny's feisty, old grandmother (portrayed by the excellent Gemma Jones) has discovered what has been going on, urges her grandson to go and get his lover after they become estranged.

The movie doesn't pull any punches, being in places sexually graphic and violent. It also doesn't shy away from showing the inner turmoil and emotional conflict the young farmer goes through as he tries to weather the rollercoaster situation he finds himself in and make sense of his own hopes and desires.

This is the second British movie in a 12 months to have dealt with the struggles of agricultural life. Last years The Levelling, whilst a completely different tale set in another part of the country entirely, shares with God's Own Country the themes of family, love, loss and hope.

The talented directors of both succeed in their own ways, delivering moving and interesting dramas that show that in Britain at least, the film industry is on something of an upward trajectory.