Feels like a novel, and is - well, was - written by Hillary Jordon, thus the multiple first person voiceovers and two and a quarter hour running time. The screenplay is credited to the director and Virgil Williams and received one of the film's Oscar nominations.
Carey Mulligan marries Jason Clarke to get herself out of poverty, but ends up on a farm that she hates with a father-in-law who's just vile (Jonathan Banks). And as soon as she meets younger brother Garrett Hedlund she realises she's married the wrong one. On the farm labours black family headed by Rob Morgan and Mary J Blige. Eldest son Jason Mitchell goes off to war, as does Hedlund, and when they return they become friends, to the offence of the native Mississippians. All acting good.
So far, so good, but it's the terrifying racism of the elder townsfolk (Pappy being the instigator) and Klan that make me so angry. If I were a black American I would still be so angry. I mean, this is the 1940s. And that they could do that to a war hero. He does survive - misunderstood this, thought he was dead; maybe my eyes being averted from the screen had something to do with it - and is reunited with his German lover and child which is fine... as long as you don't mind not having a tongue. Hedlund has at least killed his grandfather.
Rachel Morrison's very dark natural light photography was also Oscar nominated, as was the song 'Mighty River' and Blige for her performance.
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