91
As Grisebach never allows her film to reach a canter, her tight thematic rein remains a deep aesthetic pleasure.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
90
The New York Times by A.O. Scott
Western is as precise as a dropped pin on a GPS map, which makes its sense of mystery all the more powerful.
70
The Hollywood Reporter by Boyd van Hoeij
Western is a naturalistic, almost documentary-like feature that slowly builds.
75
The Playlist by Bradley Warren
Unlike traditional Westerns that depict a historical moment. the movement of people and money in Europe remains in flux, and consequently, so does this new breed of cowboy.
75
The absence of anything traditionally "painterly" reflects an ambivalent attitude toward the kind of capitalistic pro-growth machinations on display in the film.
80
New York Magazine (Vulture) by Emily Yoshida
A culture clash defined by an incredibly strong first-time performance, it’s continually more emotionally surprising than its dry packaging lets on.
80
Without advertising itself as such, Western could be viewed as a wry reflection of the European Union’s sometimes fractious present-day state — though much of its character conflict hinges on a more universal fear of the other.
80
Screen International by Jonathan Romney
Bernhard Keller’s fine photography gives this tense realist drama a streak of no-frills outdoor poetry, without overstressing its genre affinities. A strong cast, grizzled non-professionals in the great neo-realist tradition, are totally convincing.
67
The A.V. Club by Mike D'Angelo
Although thoughtful and probing, this portrait of good intentions gone awry has been so thoroughly intellectualized that there’s not much juice to it. It’s a movie that’s busy analyzing itself while you watch.
75
RogerEbert.com by Peter Sobczynski
The result is a slow burn of a drama with a restrained tone that may put off some viewers, but which will captivate those who responded to its low-key wavelength.