Josh O'Connor

Alec Secăreanu

Gemma Jones

Ian Hart

Harry Lister Smith

Patsy Ferran

Naveed Choudhry

Stefan Dermendjiev

Moey Hassan

Melanie Kilburn

John McCrea

Alexander Suvandjiev

Liam Thomas

Sarah White

Richard Stanley Jan Harris

Francis Lee

Manon Ardisson

Jack Tarling

Joshua James Richards

Chris Wyatt

Sian Jenkins

Stéphane Collonge

Dustin O'Halloran

Adam Wiltzie

Pedro Moura

Celina Norris

Cavan Ash

Anna Duffield

Celine Haddad

Richard Holmes

Diarmid Scrimshaw

Paul Webster

Shaheen Baig

Domnica Circiumaru

Layla Merrick-Wolf

Bean Ellis

Katie Bleakley

Jennifer Eriksson

Rebecca Heathcote

Ted Mitchell

Archie Knowles

Lottie McDowell

Anna Bertmark

Lewis Birds

Phil Cape

J.D. Evans

Stephen Goldsmith

Vincent Watts

Paddy Eason

Alex Murray

Dan Pryor

Berta Valverde

Neil Tattersall

John Crabtree

Jonathan Michael Dew

Mike Johnson

Andy Levett

Simon Olney

Alice Canty

Steven Aitchison

Tom Evans

Mitchell Thomas

Carrie Wallbank

Helena Beeson

Matthew Troughton

Nardia Hall

John Boughtwood

Jonas Persson

Colin Coombs

Andrew Henstock

Anna Seifert-Speck

Tamsin Spivey

Mary Burke

Duncan Campbell

Romance

Drama

God's Own Country

Inflammable Films

Shudder Films

Creative England

MetFilm Production

United Kingdom

The "British Brokeback Mountain" label that follows this film around is really unfair as it sells what is a magical move in its own right (and a stunning feature film directorial debut) really short.

The film is paced so well (I'm a fan of slow, gentle pacing that lets a story unfold; I know others might find it boring), giving us time to really get to know the characters and immerse ourselves in their world so that the plot evolution hits the way its supposed to. 

The cast is phenomenal, bringing depth and realism to their performances, it's easy to feel the emotions they feel. The way the film handles intimacy and sexual tension is both sensitive and raw, making the characters' connection feel incredibly authentic.

One thing I really liked is how it does a good job steering clear of typical love story clichés. It's not just a film about rural hardship; it's about the challenge of loving and being loved, especially in a setting where such stories usually end in tragedy. The film has this unique ability to depict the gritty reality of farm life, complete with the mud and the livestock, while simultaneously exploring the complex emotional landscape of its characters.

It's not another BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and it's not just another "gay love story." It's its own film and it beautifully depicts a relationship filled with hope and fulfillment, challenging the often tragic narratives we see in rural settings.

CinemaSerf

Josh O'Connor ("Johnny") is excellent as the frustrated rural English farmer cruising through life on the bottle, peppered with the occasional romp with the only other gay in the village (Harry Lister Smith). His father (Ian Hart) has long since stopped being able to run their farm and can now only contribute to the futility of his son's existence. They recruit an itinerant Romanian worker (Alec Secaeanu) to help out with the heavy lifting and a bond quickly forms that initially induces confusion and conflict before they realise that what both truly seek they can find in the other. It's a film that doesn't pull it's punches; isn't at all sentimental and aside from the occasional gentleness provided by his mother (Gemma Craven) is much less of a sanitised "urban" story about homosexuality than perhaps we are used to.