Watch Sweet Land For Free

People are voting emotionally.

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

My Grandparents are of Norwegian ancestry, and their parents, homesteaded in a Norwegian populated area in North Dakota. I've been to the "farm" and never really knew how hard the life was. I had heard about the discrimination of Germans at that time, although they began in the 1890's. Hard work aside, what a beautiful life, a new frontier and God blessed as they were to have each other till death did they part. They are both buried on the farm. And the phrase Olav uses, "banking and farming don't mix" was something I heard my Grandfather say many times. I only wish I had known them, heard their stories. When I was there I saw the old place, where they are laid to rest and did little more than climb a haystack, milk a cow and a goat, and ride a horse. Bravo. What a lovely film.

It is true that "Sweet Land" would have been a better picture with the non-1920s segments removed. But that is not the major problem of the film. The general lack of thinking that permeates this picture along with the slow pace dooms it to failure.Example: In this very strange first generation Norwegian-American community, no one speaks Norwegian. How many first generation immigrant communities do not speak their native tongue at least amongst themselves? None.Example: The actors are supposed to be speaking German and Norwegian at one point. But because no one seemed to care to teach them (even if only phonetically) actual dialog, they spout gibberish that is suppose to sound Norwegian and German.Example: The anti-German World War One feelings are so high that the community refuses to accept the lead female character. But by the time of the story, the war had been over for four years. The losing Germans were no longer the enemy. The anti-German feelings no longer existed...especially from new immigrants. Norway did not battle the way the French and English did.Example: Two of the major characters played by Alan Cumming and John Heard have no motivation to do what they do, except that it advances the story in the direction the filmmakers want to go.Example: The one nude scene is totally gratuitous. Who takes a bath in the living room at four in the morning and then falls asleep in the tub? Only the bride-to-be of a farmer who is so dumb that he fails to see her and instead washes in the yard would know.These are just a few of the "sloppy" problems of the film. There is the slide show, the auction, the size of the wheat field, the bankers, the neighbors...You get the picture.If you have an overwhelming need to see Elizabeth Reaser's backside, then you will enjoy this film. Otherwise, you're just wasting your time.

And I think that's what many viewers pass their ultimate judgment on - what they think the movie is about.The actual movie, though, falls far short. Let me count the ways.It's pace, if there is one, is glacial.Olaf, for most of the movie is beyond shy and retiring, he's border line retarded.The minister hates Inge with a passion, then does a 180, decides he loves the girl, based on....what? Seeing her work hard in the corn field? The neighbors raise $7,000 and give it to Olaf so Olaf can keep his farm? No, to keep his neighbor's farm, which he bought without any money. When his 'bid' was the highest, all the banker lets the other bidders, the ones with real money, take off, despite knowing that Olaf does have anywhere near enough money.On the other hand, viewers were fortunate enough to see what was probably the prettiest immigrant girl who came across the ocean. Lucky Olaf.The general concept could have resulted in a really sweet movie - the actual story line was thread bear.

I usually don't watch love stories but this was an exception and it is an exceptional film. Even my wife enjoyed it. I wonder how I never heard of it when it first came around. Set in the upper Mid-West just after World War I, it is the tale of a German mail order bride who speaks no English, and of her heartfelt struggles to be accepted in the community, which is still suffering from a War spawned hatred of Germans, and to get married. It is a period piece which accurately describes conditions as they were at that time, except we never see the outhouse, a common fixture on farms until running water became available.If the picture has any shortcomings, it is that if you don't understand German, you never know what she is saying. Sub-titles would have been helpful but then perhaps viewers would not grasp the difficulty of the situation if they knew what was being said. Another one, is that the story, which is told in flashbacks, just doesn't go far enough with the part just before she is to get married. But the beginning and the endings mesh together very well and leaves a viewer with a sense of completeness.