Sweet Country
Samuel Goldwyn Films | Release Date: April 6, 2018
7.1
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
26
Mixed:
8
Negative:
4
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
10
dammanJul 10, 2018
Great movie people just done want admit that life is not great for the original people of this God for saken land. Great movie and well acted. Must see.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
mechamartiniJul 25, 2018
There is something about this film thats speaks volumes and in such manner thats effortless. In this film its just direction and the performances that stood out so supreme , I am at awe. Especially the character of Sam kelly. The dark humor ,There is something about this film thats speaks volumes and in such manner thats effortless. In this film its just direction and the performances that stood out so supreme , I am at awe. Especially the character of Sam kelly. The dark humor , the gore , the violence and then the bittersweet victory , jeez thats what I call a cinema folks. Hopefully I see more ventures like this . Raw and visceral.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
BeastJ18Apr 25, 2018
When I saw this film at the Rotterdam Film Festival, it was the movie that stuck with me for a few days. The story and characters are wonderfully written and distressing. It did what it intended to do, giving us a natural and gruellingWhen I saw this film at the Rotterdam Film Festival, it was the movie that stuck with me for a few days. The story and characters are wonderfully written and distressing. It did what it intended to do, giving us a natural and gruelling insight into what this time and landscape was like for those without privilege.… Expand
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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3
OlivierPielJun 25, 2018
Even though this is not the typical simplistic good-vs-evil black-and-white story that Hollywood serves us at every turn when it comes to racial relations, it's still a bore.
2 of 13 users found this helpful211
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4
KenRFeb 8, 2019
Yet another Australian movie financed largely by Government grants that ticks all the Political Correctness boxes. As predictable as night follows day. When will Australia stop throwing buckets of public funds at hate-based movie makersYet another Australian movie financed largely by Government grants that ticks all the Political Correctness boxes. As predictable as night follows day. When will Australia stop throwing buckets of public funds at hate-based movie makers wanting to create division for division’s sake? The script (what little there is) by Steven McGregor and David Tranter is supposedly set in the 1920s but, the endless prolific swearing sounds more like 2018 – seems they can’t see past their own era. Yes, it’s a sad case but their characters are one dimensional and totally predictable, as are the majority of situations posed in their loosely based plot. Editor, Nick Meyers seems to be trying to add interest by cutting in flash-forwards (and back) but this simply makes the lack of up-front, solid interest, more noticeable. If local director Warwick Thornton grew up watching spaghetti westerns – then he didn’t have a chance, because all he’s doing is transposing them into Australiana. The movie is also painfully stretched out it could be watched at 2 x speed and the viewer would miss nothing. Thornton’s photographic direction is excellent (he should stay with this as his chosen profession) or was it actually co-photographer Dylan River who guided much of this? Equally good, was the sound recordist’s professional work but, he also doubles as co-writer and leaves something to be desired – maybe stay in the field your best at. The unrelentingly nasty, foul-mouthed characters are simply too obviously set-up to be believed or taken seriously – other than by viewers who do not balance their viewing habits and watch only this type of ‘entertainment’ or are guilty partners of the ‘them and us’ hate driven crowd – those who continually drag this sorry world down to their pathetic levels. Brian Brown’s Police Sergeant‘s character is so superficial you could almost hear the production executives calling for a ‘marketable’ name to be added to the cast – same applies for Sam Neil, who plays the only ‘Christian’ to inhabit this crude land (and Sam plays this out in his obvious atheistic manner) The Aboriginal casting is good and Matt Day does considerably well playing Judge Taylor. Maybe it’s time for Australian moviemaking to grow up and move forward. Much time and money will be spent on marketing this movie overseas but might be better invested in a more positive endeavour. Not sure why American Johnny Cash, singing Thomas Dorsey’s “Peace in the Valley” was chosen for the end credits? If it was for satirical contrast - it simply didn’t quite work. Perhaps then, it was intended for the American market...?… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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6
TyranianApr 14, 2019
Very well filmed Aussie drama with decent acting and writing though a little unimaginative.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
BrianMcCriticSep 1, 2018
A western film that creates a vision of the outback with a brutal sense of justice. The performances are all strong and from moment one the world that is built keeps you invested. Overall a middle 7 a B+.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
ahmedaiman9999Aug 6, 2018
The movie has a familiar story and simple dialogue, and this is not a problem by any means, yet it's technically impressive. Sweet Country is a visually stunning film. The cinematography in this movie is similar to Mudbound's, but it's evenThe movie has a familiar story and simple dialogue, and this is not a problem by any means, yet it's technically impressive. Sweet Country is a visually stunning film. The cinematography in this movie is similar to Mudbound's, but it's even more beautiful! Actually, it has the best cinematography of the year, so far! And while the movie looks poetic, the same goes for the storytelling. It reminded me of Days of Heaven. As a matter of fact, you may feel if you're watching a Terrence Malick film, except it's more fast-paced. The similarity between Sweet Country and Malick's movies don't stop there. As Warwick Thornton used symbolism in Sweet Country in a way that resembles Malick's use of symbolism. By that I mean the use of allegories and symbols in a beautiful way that feels literary or poetic. Unfortunately, the use of symbols in Sweet Country often feels superfluous, and completely unnecessary. Sweet Country is masterly edited, and I think that what makes it very watchable, and often enjoyable despite its poetic style that may indispose some people.

Thornton used intercut flash-forwards and flashbacks heavily. And while sometimes they help us understanding some events that happened, or will happen, therefore build tension, they often seem like nothing but artistic frippery, specially when they are used to make the movie seem if it has a non-linear storytelling. Sweet Country also should be praised for its non-sentimental approach to its message. Unlike other movies that tackle the same subject matter, Sweet Country doesn't dramatize any aspect of its story. The movie even doesn't have a soundtrack, and that makes it feel more realistic. The movie relies on its bleak and dreary atmosphere to imply its subject matter and moral instead of presenting them in the usual manner. All the performances are good. Hamilton Morris' performance is impressive because it feels genuine. Sam Neill is also very good even if his character, Fred Smith, is underdeveloped. Fred Smith is a very important character and should have been more developed, but unfortunately, it's a very flat character.

In general, the movie has some issues in terms of its characters. The movie has too many characters for its own good. And the movie tries to give almost every character its fair share of importance. In the end, Sweet Country a movie of visuals first and foremost, it could hardly be more visually impressive. But, to be honest, it's a very pretentious work. (7/10)… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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9
PalpetineSheevMar 20, 2020
The title is one of the most beautifully ironic thing I've read in a very long time after seeing this film.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
LajaleaaMay 23, 2019
"Cheeky white fellow."
.
( 77/100 ) . Warwick Thornton, de Australia, presentó su tercer film en la Biennale y en el TIFF 2017 en donde recibió la bendición de la critica profesional. Sweet Country es una aventura dolorosa cuyo paisaje"Cheeky white fellow."
.
( 77/100 )
.
Warwick Thornton, de Australia, presentó su tercer film en la Biennale y en el TIFF 2017 en donde recibió la bendición de la critica profesional.
Sweet Country es una aventura dolorosa cuyo paisaje demuestra la talentosa #fotografía de Thornton que retrata no solo la belleza y la quietud de un lugar salvaje, si no también, la ausencia de humanidad gracias a la falta de justicia y, aún así, su sensibilidad. I don't want to discredit the movie, which is beautiful, but it doesn't controls well the quantity of tension that it want.
Sam Kelly y su familia son abusados por los ciudadanos de un condado muy retirado en los años 20 de Australia y los actos ebrios de uno de ellos provoca que Sam sea culpado de asesinato. Esto provocará que la familia se vea perseguida y juzgada bajo términos nada imparciales.
Mientras la historia defiende la justicia que Sam busca al huir del juicio, también tiene el ingenio de juzgar a la justicia misma. El elenco hace un trabajo justo para representar sus papeles y logra generar la tensión que busca la historia, pero, sin querer desacreditar a la película, pues es hermosa, esta no mide bien la cantidad de tensión que quiere y, como tampoco busca complacer al público, usa el silencio como voz principal para expresar un discurso de agonía, opresión, trauma, ignorancia y angustia. Por lo tanto los personajes ahogan el razonamiento con decisiones impulsivas cuyas consecuencias se basan en el estatus social de la época.
Sweet Country es una historia que hace justicia a ese mismo valor. Crea una pesada tensión por su valor enorme que hará al público crítico feliz de su misma completud y al público en general cargar con una culpa que preferirán ignorar.
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Warwick Thorton, from Australia, presented his third film in the 2017 Biennale and TIFF, where received the blessing from the professional critique.
Sweet Country is a painful adventure which landscape shows the talented photography of Thorton that shows not just the beauty and the quietness of a salvage place, but also, the absence of humanity thanks to the lack of justice and yet, how sensible it is.
Sam Kelly and his family are abused by the citizens of a far away county in the '20s of Australia and the drunk acts of one of them makes Sam to be blamed for an assassination. Then, the family will be persecuted and judged under impartial terms.
While the story defends the justice that Sam searches by running away his trial, it also has the cleverness to judge the justice itself. The cast makes a fair job to represent their roles and they achieve to create the tension the story searches, but, and I don't want to discredit the movie, which is beautiful, it doesn't controls well the amount of tension they want and, as it doesn't want to please the audience, uses the silence as the principal voice to express a speech of agony, oppression, trauma, ignorance and anguish. Therefor, the characters drown the reasoning with impulsive decisions which consequences are based in the social status of that epoch.
Sweet Country is a story that makes justice to that same value. It creates a heavy tension given to its high value that will make the critical public happy by its own fullness and the general public to burden a guilt that would prefer to ignore.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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2
Mauro_LanariApr 3, 2021
(Mauro Lanari)
Nihilistic despair orchestrated with all the directorial tricks adored by festivals (it won the Special Jury Prize at the 74th Venice International Film Festival). The narrative is paroxystically dilated (obvious: for echoing(Mauro Lanari)
Nihilistic despair orchestrated with all the directorial tricks adored by festivals (it won the Special Jury Prize at the 74th Venice International Film Festival). The narrative is paroxystically dilated (obvious: for echoing the boundless spaces), the diegesis is non-linear (obvious: for echoing the Aboriginal tradition), and the desert is everywhere, in the landscape, in the non-dialogues, in the interminable soporific silences. Some have called it a "cooled deep emotional participationNihilistic despair orchestrated with all the directorial tricks adored by festivals (it won the Special Jury Prize at the 74th Venice International Film Festival). The narrative is paroxystically dilated (obvious: for echoing the boundless spaces), the diegesis is non-linear (obvious: for echoing the Aboriginal tradition), and the desert is everywhere, in the landscape, in the non-dialogues, in the interminable soporific silences. Some have called it a "cooled deep emotional participation." I consider it the whole rhetorical arsenal flaunted, complete with a metacinematographic touch (justice in the open-air screening room).… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
DawdlingPoetNov 25, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a bleak and harsh watch, with a very rural setting - a somewhat unforgiving one, you could say. There are plenty of scenes with little dialogue and when there is dialogue, most of it (not all but a lot) consists of shouting from white men towards the aborigines. I certainly felt sorry for the natives, the way they were (badly) treated - indeed it made me feel curious to learn more about them and their culture. The cinematography is pretty impressive and overall its a good watch, so I'd recommend it on that basis, as long as your ok with subtitles, as there are quite a lot of them, due to the Aboriginal language spoken by natives.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
vanVanvanNov 28, 2019
I enjoyed this movie, which paints a credible picture of life at the Australian frontier, which is unfamiliar to me. Some of the things it shows are the loneliness, abuse, alcoholism, and racism of the settlers and disparity betweenI enjoyed this movie, which paints a credible picture of life at the Australian frontier, which is unfamiliar to me. Some of the things it shows are the loneliness, abuse, alcoholism, and racism of the settlers and disparity between indigenous people that work for the white settlers and who have lost their heritage as opposed to the tribal people who live in a different world.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
philipz484Jan 2, 2021
I learned nothing about the Aboriginal culture, but for the 3000th time that the colonial authorities were bad and Jesus was good. The slow pace shows the pointlessness of many scenes.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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