A narrative of a ranchland family

This is my first viewing of Lasse Hallström’s. A very casually told story ‘An Unfinished Life’ speaks about fear, belief, apprehensions, relationship and family. Plotted in the ranchland of Wyoming, where two aged males, Einar (Robert Redford) and Mitch (Morgan Freeman) spends their undisturbed days of isolation and inhibitions. They meet some changes when Jean (Jeniffer Lopez), Einar’s daughter-in-law, comes with her daughter Griff (Becca Gardner) to stay. Jean, a widow of Einar’s son and a battered lover to one of her few boy friends, suffers from a guilt, feeling that she is responsible for her husband’s death. The thought is very harshly believed by Einar too, who does not leave any chance to accuse her for same as well. This keeps him away from his grand daughter Griff. In the scantily populated ranchland Einar, Jean and Griff finds only one support, Mitch, who unlike Einar rationally accepted Einar’s son’s death to be an accident.
The story and visual treatment, though not gripping still holds an audience, till the misunderstanding is washed away.
The low budget film is mainly based on its theme and dialogue. The bond among people in a not-so-popular country is very clearly portrayed. The thought of a father who outlived his son and his sustaining relation with the unfinished grave of his son, is quite heart rendering. Similarly is the attachment of Einar and Mitch, who lost his independency to the wounds of a bear attack. Though the usage of a bear as an allegory to Mitch’s fear is bit far fetched still it is a good feel for one who can decipher it.
Undoubtedly, the powerful cast contributed their best. As a debutant, Becca Gardner’s acting as an unaccepted granddaughter who gradually reaps her grandpa’s love and cares for her, is surely mentionable.
Loosely directed and edited ‘An Unfinished Life’ is not a call for all movie goers. Only if you have a real taste and deep feeling for drama, do not miss the screening.