Country
Released October 1984 Starring Jessica Lange (as Jewell Ivy), Sam Shepard, Wilford Brimley, Levi Knebel, Matt Clark Directed by Richard Pearce 109 min. Box office gross - 8.4 million See complete credits at Internet Movie Database |
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Country was a project that concerned Jessica Lange at the time - the widespread foreclosures on farms during the early 1980’s and the effect that this had on the families who lived on them. Lange said “The part of Jewell Ivy was more familiar to me than any other part I’ve played. I drew from all my aunts in rural Minnesota. I wanted to convey the tremendous strength and tenacity of these women in balance with a heartbreaking vulnerability.”
The story concerns the Iowa family of Gil and Jewell Ivy who struggle to fight against the government bureaucracies who are threatening to foreclose on their farm and the farms of their neighbors. The ordeal sparks tension between Gil and Jewell, and Gil begins to lose hope and turns to drinking. Jewell remains strong and organizes the community to stand up for their land.
Country, although it failed at the box office, was widely admired by critics and was considered the best of the films that dealt with this issue. The cast was superb with Sam Shepard and Jessica Lange giving riveting performances. She would receive her third Oscar nomination for the role.
Critical Sampling:
"Jessica Lange’s pet project took a while to get produced, but it winds up firmly on the right track, with its basic theme of the classic struggle of the working man against the forces of government." - Variety
"Miss Lange is not only an exceptionally talented and beautiful woman, she's a force of nature. It's this elemental strength, both as an actress and as the character she plays in the film, that shapes ''Country,'' mostly for the better. With ''Frances'' and now ''Country,'' Miss Lange joins Barbra Streisand, Jane Fonda and Goldie Hawn - that small group of American actresses who have successfully shown that they are the most important ''authors'' of their own careers." - New York Times
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The story concerns the Iowa family of Gil and Jewell Ivy who struggle to fight against the government bureaucracies who are threatening to foreclose on their farm and the farms of their neighbors. The ordeal sparks tension between Gil and Jewell, and Gil begins to lose hope and turns to drinking. Jewell remains strong and organizes the community to stand up for their land.
Country, although it failed at the box office, was widely admired by critics and was considered the best of the films that dealt with this issue. The cast was superb with Sam Shepard and Jessica Lange giving riveting performances. She would receive her third Oscar nomination for the role.
Critical Sampling:
"Jessica Lange’s pet project took a while to get produced, but it winds up firmly on the right track, with its basic theme of the classic struggle of the working man against the forces of government." - Variety
"Miss Lange is not only an exceptionally talented and beautiful woman, she's a force of nature. It's this elemental strength, both as an actress and as the character she plays in the film, that shapes ''Country,'' mostly for the better. With ''Frances'' and now ''Country,'' Miss Lange joins Barbra Streisand, Jane Fonda and Goldie Hawn - that small group of American actresses who have successfully shown that they are the most important ''authors'' of their own careers." - New York Times
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