Das Reich und die Herrlichkeit (2000)

Das Reich und die Herrlichkeit: Directed by Michael Winterbottom. With Ron Anderson, Marty Antonini, Wes Bentley, Randy Birch. A prospector who sold his wife and infant daughter in exchange for a mining claim, tries desperately to win them back as he helps to build the Pacific Railroad with a group of pioneer friends.

“My fave film of 2001 yet. In another week I may not have gone to see this, so Iu0026#39;m glad there were no other releases that appealed to me, because I wouldnu0026#39;t want to have missed this – I enjoyed it more than I was expecting to. Yes, it is reminiscent of u0026#39;Heavenu0026#39;s Gateu0026#39;, but this is probably better, if only for the fact that you wonu0026#39;t have to devote half a day to see it. It has its flaws certainly – for instance, Wes Bentleyu0026#39;s character doesnu0026#39;t really convince – but its positives far outweigh those: it looks great, the performances are excellent, and itu0026#39;s moving without being sentimental. Although her character was maybe just a little too sweet and humble for me (but thatu0026#39;s not really her fault) Sarah Polley steals the show. Peter Mullan was class too, but (again, not the actoru0026#39;s fault) I did find it hard to reconcile how old he looked given the timescale and his character as depicted in flashback – though I guess the hard life of a prospector in 1860u0026#39;s America would have taken itu0026#39;s toll. This movie does give you a feel for how life would have been at that time and place, and for the importance the railways played in the countryu0026#39;s development. The moral of the story is the old one about selling your soul for filthy lucre, you have to live with your sins and your mistakes, and you canu0026#39;t put a price on love. I rarely pay to go see a movie twice, but I might just make an exception for this one. Donu0026#39;t miss.”