2019 * R * 1h 59m I really enjoy post-apocalyptic movies. Both the action-packed thriller ones, and the subtle ones like this. The film is mainly set out in the wilds of nature where a dad (Casey Affleck) and his young daughter Rag (Anna Pnlowsky) live off off the land. It's been ten years since an epidemic wiped out half the world's population, including almost all the females. So he has to be very careful to disguise his daughter and pretend she's a boy.
The film was written and directed by Affleck, who did a marvelous job crafting an engaging and beautiful film. Its main focus is survival, but it's also about the love between child and parent. There is not a ton of action in the film as they spend their days roaming the countryside, trying to avoid people, mainly out of fear that Rag will be taken from him. In the final third of the movie, the couple is taken in by a trio of elderly gentleman. They suspect early on that Rag is actually a girl, but are fine with keeping it a secret.
One of the only negative comments I can make about it is Affleck's acting. I con't know what it is about him and his brother Ben, but they always seem so wooden in their delivery. Almost like they're reading the script for the first time. It's funny that the 12-year old Pnlowsky definitely outshined him here! I suspect we'll be seeing a lot more of her in the near future.
If you're looking for a gentle character study that takes place primarily in the deep woods, I think you'll enjoy this film. I'm not sure why it's rated "R". There's a violent sequence near the end of the movie, but I think it wold be fine for a mature teen to view.
4 out of 5 stars
Currently streaming for free on Hoopla (with your library card. Also on Prime, and to rent on Apple TV and YouTube.
