God’s Own Country-2017
Director-Francis Lee
Starring-Josh O’Connor, Alec Secareanu
Scott’s Review #773
Reviewed June 13, 2018
Grade: B+
God’s Own Country (2017) is a British, romantic, LGBT-themed drama directed by Francis Lee, making his directorial film debut.
The setting is farming land in the Yorkshire (northern England) territory making the film quite lovely to watch and the pace of the film, therefore, is slow. Lee does not rush the pace of the story either so it mirrors the slow life that farmers must endure.
The film is somewhat autobiographical to Lee’s own life.
The connection and chemistry between the two leads are palpable and the love story endearing, especially impressive to show two different cultures coming together and merging as one.
The film is a nice watch and an above-average story making it worthy for LGBT audiences worldwide. Those believing in true love and finding one’s soulmate will be deeply satisfied.
Twenty-something Johnny (Josh O’Connor) lives a dull existence on his father’s farm in remote Yorkshire, England. His grandmother (Gemma Jones) also lives there and due to his father’s recent stroke, the success of the farm is in question. Johnny is depressed; drinking regularly and engaging in sexual encounters with men.
Romanian migrant worker, Gheorghe (Alec Secareanu), is hired to help out and the two young men eventually fall in love. After some ups and downs in their relationship, they decide to live on the farm together and presumably live happily ever after.
God’s Own Country is a rich story of romance and the only real obstacles that Johnny and Gheorghe face are internal struggles.
In unique fashion for LGBT films, neither of the men are necessarily unhappy with their sexual identities nor do they face hurdles by other characters because of their sexuality. Gheorghe faces harassment because he is Romanian and deemed an “outsider”.
Besides Johnny’s grandmother and perhaps his father, no characters seem aware that the men are a couple.
The cinematography is gorgeous and a perfect backdrop for the love story. The farm is lush with spacious green rolling hills for miles and miles. The animals the family raise are lamb and cattle and more than one scene features a beautiful birth and the nuzzling of the parent to its newborn baby. Sadly one birth is also a breach, which is tough to watch.
The themes of life and birth perhaps mirror the feelings and emotions that Gheorghe and Johnny experience- new love.
Throughout God’s Own Country I frequently drew comparisons to arguably the most mainstream and revolutionary film in LGBT history- that of 2005’s Brokeback Mountain.
Certainly, similar elements of animals, farming, and the outdoors are featured in both films. Additionally, commonalities like loneliness and loss are heavily featured. Finally, the rough and tumble, machismo-fueled wrestling scenes that result in rough sex between the men are used in both Brokeback Mountain and God’s Own Country.
In fact, both films could be companion pieces.
The film does not delve too much into the back story of the main characters; at least I did not catch many mentions. Admittedly, viewing the film on DVD with no closed captioning or subtitle capability made capturing all of the dialogue very difficult.
Especially with English and cockney accents, this was made doubly challenging. Regardless, both men are lonely, even despondent, but why? What happened to Johnny’s mother? Where are Gheorghe’s parents or his family?
Upstart Francis Lee carves a quiet, thoughtful yet compelling story of unexpected love that develops between two lonely men in a remote area of the United Kingdom. God’s Own Country (2017) paints a nearly perfect experience, slow yes, but featuring exceptional acting from both leads, as well as the two supporting turns.
A film recommended for those seeking a poignant and fulfilling story of love.