From acclaimed actress Robin Wright (Wonder Woman, “House of Cards”) comes her feature film directorial debut, LAND, the poignant story of one woman’s search for meaning in the vast and harsh American wilderness. Edee (Wright), in the aftermath of an unfathomable event, finds herself unable to stay connected to the world she once knew, and in the face of that uncertainty, retreats to the magnificent, but unforgiving, wilds of the Rockies. After a local hunter (Demián Bichir; The Hateful Eight, “Weeds”) brings her back from the brink of death, she must find a way to live again.
For in-depth thoughts on Land, please see my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
Land comes to Blu-Ray in an AVC encoded transfer in 1.67:1 courtesy of Universal featuring stunning cinematography from Bobby Bukowski. This presentation is quite gorgeous and offers a stable image quality throughout. The visual majesty of the film translates well on disc with most shots looking stable and breathtaking. Wright captures some awe-inspiring landscapes that really pop in high definition. Not only do the textural details render cleanly, but the lush greenery leaps off the screen while other earth tones render naturally. There is no evidence of compression artifacts or other digital nuisances outside a very minor bit in the darkest sections of the cabin. Skin tones look natural throughout the runtime. I do not see how this disc could have been improved significantly without a 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc. It’s a real stunner as is.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that conjures a very specific mood that transports you to this unique lifestyle. This is a very subdued film, but the track does come alive with the environmental sounds. The wonderful score from Ben Sollee is showcased beautifully here with a gently enveloping use of the surround speakers. The dialogue comes through crystal clear without ever being overpowered by the environmental effects or the score. The sound design is just as precisely thought-out as the on screen visuals with all of the sounds positioned just right in the mix. The environmental effects create a really nice soundscape of brisk wind and noises from the crackling fire. This is not an action-heavy film, so the activity in the low end is very sparse. This is a lovely sounding release that brings the movie to life in a really splendid way.
Special Features
- Crafting Land: A five-minute featurette that focuses on the tight shooting schedule, finding the right shooting locations, staging the cabin, using the shifting climate to the film’s advantage and more.
- Robin Wright – Feature Film Directorial Debut: A four-minute look at the work of Wright behind the camera and what skills she brought to her first outing as a feature film director.
- After The Trauma: A three-minute featurette which touches on the themes of the story and Edee’s journey.
Final Thoughts
Land is a truly beautiful feature directorial debut from Robin Wright. The story is not terribly involved, but it is handled with impeccable grace by Wright and remains enthralling and deeply affecting throughout the runtime. This is a film that captures both the beauty of nature and the power of the human spirit in really impressive ways. Universal has provided a Blu-Ray with an incredibly solid A/V presentation and a couple of entertaining special features. Those who appreciate intimate character dramas should find themselves impressed by the power of this story. Recommended
Land will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD on May 11, 2021. The film is currently available to own on Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
