Sweet Land

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Sweet Land

PG

2005

1h 50m

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

72 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

When Inge Altenberg (Elizabeth Reaser), a young German woman, arrives in rural Minnesota, she meets Norwegian farmer Olaf Torvik (Tim Guinee), a fellow immigrant. Olaf's parents in Norway have arranged for the two to marry, but problems arise when she doesn't have the proper papers. Despite being unwed, the couple lives and farms together, causing a rift with their community. In the face of considerable hardship, Inge and Olaf toil away and grow closer in the process.

Critics Consensus

Finding the right balance between subtle and sentimental, Sweet Land moves beyond other similarly-themed dramas with evocative cinematography that plays an equal role to the talented cast.

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Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

Metro Newspaper (UK)

The flashback structure adds nothing but length to an already awkward mix of humanist-socialist parable and gently halting love story that's been sat on a shelf since 2005. But even so, it's a surprisingly sweet little treat.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 5, 2008

Full Review

Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

At once epic and intimate, Sweet Land offers a stirring account of love and hardship which, aside from a muffed Capra moment towards the end, hardly puts a foot wrong.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 5, 2008

Full Review

Martin Hoyle

Financial Times

Nostalgic, gentle, loving: the elegiac mood set against endless rural space inevitably suggests Malick's Days of Heaven. What next from this considerable talent?

Sep 5, 2008

Full Review

Al Alexander

The Patriot Ledger

Ali Selim's visual masterpiece recalls the stark artistry of Terrence Malick and Western lyricism of Larry McMurtry, as it turns every frame into a picture postcard of stunning beauty.

Rated: A-

May 25, 2013

Full Review

Brian Orndorf

BrianOrndorf.com

Exceptionally photographed and remarkably performed by actors Tim Guinee and Elizabeth Reaser, Sweet Land is modest, but demonstrative, eager to detail a love story that sustains for a lifetime.

Rated: A

Dec 28, 2009

Full Review

Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 15, 2008

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Stephen C

Romantic in 1 hour and 50 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG for Brief Partial Nudity and Mild Language!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $1,700,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy 20th anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/22/25

Full Review

John P

Wonderful story!! The hard life of the immigrant farmer, hate, discrimination, smallmindness. And love shines through. Today we cannot Imagine life on a farm in the early 1900's. Incredible cinematography, writing, and acting. Don't miss this one.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is an amazingly good movie with a awesome story and even though it is a little slow at times, I was still recommend it, James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas, February 19, 2023

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

jill l

Nice. Prejudice. Conflict. Love. Changes of heart. Captivating. Great acting and production values. I liked the way they organized the storytelling.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Loved the movie; frustrated when the foreign languages weren't translated in the subtitles. The story is sweet, and the cinematography was beautiful.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

The actors do what they can, but the pace is so glacial, so utterly comatose that the film will actually put you to sleep.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

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Ali Selim

Director

Elizabeth Reaser

Inge Ottenberg

Tim Guinee

Olaf

Alan Cumming

Frandsen

Lois Smith

Old Inge

Ned Beatty

Harmo

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Synopsis

When Inge Altenberg (Elizabeth Reaser), a young German woman, arrives in rural Minnesota, she meets Norwegian farmer Olaf Torvik (Tim Guinee), a fellow immigrant. Olaf's parents in Norway have arranged for the two to marry, but problems arise when she doesn't have the proper papers. Despite being unwed, the couple lives and farms together, causing a rift with their community. In the face of considerable hardship, Inge and Olaf toil away and grow closer in the process.

Director: Ali Selim
Producer: Ali Selim, Alan Cumming
Screenwriter: Ali Selim
Production Co: LasalleHolland
Rating: PG (Brief Partial Nudity|Mild Language)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 13, 2006
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 3, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.7M
Runtime: 1h 50m

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