The Cold Lands

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The Cold Lands

Released Mar 14, 2014

1h 41m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

64%

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11 Reviews

53%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

After his self-reliant mother dies unexpectedly, a boy (Silas Yelich) flees into the woods in shock. His nerves worn thin, he encounters a drifter (Peter Scanavino) and forms a wary alliance with the man.

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Writer-director Tom Gilroy has worked with Yelich previously and makes his youthful character the quiet, watchful center of this 2013 indie drama.

May 29, 2014

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Emily St. James

AV Club

Gilroy takes all of this to a more realistic, more interesting place, and he manages to find an ending for the story that offers a touch of optimism but doesn't feel like a cheat.

Rated: B-

Mar 14, 2014

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Matt Zoller Seitz

RogerEbert.com

As written and directed by Tom Gilroy, it consists entirely of discoveries.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 14, 2014

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Prairie Miller

NewsBlaze

Best when dramatizing how the land itself comes alive and serves as a character in its own right, resurrecting the buried history of the US Anti-Rent Resistance Movement of the 19th century. And perhaps a lesson well taught to an endangered rebel child.

Apr 16, 2014

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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality & Practice

A likeable drama about an eleven-year old who survives living on his own in the forest but finds it more difficult to get by when he returns to civilization.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 13, 2014

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Chase Whale

ScreenAnarchy

Blink and you'll miss a terrific performance from Lili Taylor.

Mar 13, 2014

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Audience Member

Although it brings up a few interesting concepts here and there it mainly amounts to stoners talking about the Matrix movies and extremely rudimentary thoughts on simulation theory.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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joe m

Good if somewhat slow paced movie that really doesn't go anywhere, but that's the point. Extra kudos for the upstate NY setting.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

The slow moving pace just didn't pique my interest. I made it half way through before calling it quits.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Audience Member

This film is engrossing in every aspect. There was nothing predictable about it, from individuals to landscape. I felt the director/writer's sensitivity and joy of living shining through it in a rare way. This luminous depiction of purpose melting into action is something I will want to watch again- and share with those who may be in need of it, or able to take it in- and not everyone will want to, at any given moment. I would not say it's a family film- it could be very disturbing. The mother played so delicately and movingly by Lili Taylor, took a strongly principled but completely disturbing choice the beginning of the film, one that most parents, including myself, would never make, one that almost breaks the heart. But it is from her tutelage that the boy receives all he needs to make his way, as indeed it is with parents- what we teach or do not teach our children is what they will use to make their first important choices in direction and friendship.So, if you would like to see a masterful and deeply moving film that does not pander to emotional bad habits, that depicts being in the environment as part of our lives, that is full of suspense and challenges a lot of assumptions- check it out. Amusing side- note is the missing soundtrack by Michael Stipe- which apparently only happens on the extras. I loved this film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

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Tom Gilroy

Director

Peter Scanavino

Carter

Silas Yelich

Atticus

Lili Taylor

Nicole

Tom Gilroy

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Synopsis

After his self-reliant mother dies unexpectedly, a boy (Silas Yelich) flees into the woods in shock. His nerves worn thin, he encounters a drifter (Peter Scanavino) and forms a wary alliance with the man.

Director: Tom Gilroy
Producer: Andrew Goldman, Paul Mezey
Screenwriter: Tom Gilroy
Distributor: Cinereach
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 14, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 41m

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