Sweet Land (2005)

Sweet Land is Sommersby meets The Shipping News in Minnesota. The scenery and the acting are enchanting and beautiful. The character and emotional restraint visible in the faces of these people of the land is amazing. Olaf (Tim Guinee) is a stoic Norwegian bachelor farmer who longs to be wed to his intended bride. The community opposes their union because she is a German immigrant in the aftermath of WWI. Young Inge (Elizabeth Reaser) is a sharp, doe-eyed dish who will not let her destiny be denied. Old Inge (Lois Smith) is a timeworn gem who emanates the lifelong love of her husband. The story is reminiscent of bits from The Notebook and It's A Wonderful Life and the landscapes can be jawdroppingly gorgeous. Most of the movie is in English but even if you don't know Norwegian or German, the intentional lack of subtitles for these scenes incurs the same effect in viewers as would be experienced by the characters: their dependence on communicating by emotions and gestures rather than words. Unless you're uncomfortable with reality outside the city limits, vote to see this film in a heartbeat. 5 stars.