Western | Telescope Film
Western

Western

Critic Rating

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A group of German construction workers set out for a foreign construction site in the Bulgarian province. The strange country awakens adventure feelings among the men. At the same time, they are confronted with their prejudices and mistrust. For two of the men, a nearby village becomes the stage for a competition for the recognition and favor of the village.

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What are critics saying?

100

The Telegraph by Tim Robey

Grisebach has an observational grasp of the male psyche – especially its pathological obsession with pride – that fairly takes the breath away.

91

The Film Stage

As Grisebach never allows her film to reach a canter, her tight thematic rein remains a deep aesthetic pleasure.

91

The Film Stage by Jake Howell

As Grisebach never allows her film to reach a canter, her tight thematic rein remains a deep aesthetic pleasure.

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.

90

Los Angeles Times by Justin Chang

The story is a faultlessly observed, broodingly intelligent piece of realism, a dispatch from a sun-baked frontier that could hardly feel more mundane or specific, but which Grisebach somehow suffuses with the beauty and power of myth.

80

Screen Daily 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.

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

Variety by Guy Lodge

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.

80

Time Out by Trevor Johnston

The slowest of slow burns, requiring adjusting to its careful pacing. There’s no instant gratification on offer, but the second half will draw you into its bristling power games.

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.

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

Slant Magazine by Carson Lund

The absence of anything traditionally "painterly" reflects an ambivalent attitude toward the kind of capitalistic pro-growth machinations on display in the film.

70

The Hollywood Reporter by Boyd van Hoeij

Western is a naturalistic, almost documentary-like feature that slowly builds.

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.