Little Woods
A new-age take on the western
It’s a tale as old as any — heroes (or heroines) doing whatever it takes so they and their loved ones can survive. Now, Nia DaCosta is gifting the world with her own interpretation of that tale in her directorial debut Little Woods, starring acting powerhouses Tessa Thompson and Lily James. Set in North Dakota and portrayed as a kind of new-age take on westerns, the film follows Thompson and James, two estranged sisters thrown suddenly back into one another’s lives and into a dire situation.
Ollie (Thompson) is a former drug runner who was once caught and arrested for smuggling medication for her terminally ill mother. When Deb (James) unexpectedly returns home after their mother’s death, fleeing from an abusive relationship and bringing with her a child and an unplanned pregnancy, the sisters must quickly find a way to pay their mother’s mortgage and hold onto their home. To do so, Ollie sees no other option than to start selling pills once again.
Money, the law and men become obstacles for the sisters along the way, putting their lives and illicit livelihood at risk. James’ performance is a complex mix of stoicism and concern, while Thompson seems to be on the brink of reeling, overcome by the burden of fiercely fighting to find a way overcome the hurdles placed in front of them. Juxtaposed with one another, the actresses paint two strikingly different yet complementary portraits of how we deal with hardship.
The film is an intimate portrait of poverty, life in rural America, womanhood and familial bonds. Our pair of troubled heroines will surely take viewers on a heart-pounding and thoughtful journey as they try to make it out of the woods.
Little Woods opens April 19.
