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MUDBOUND [2017]
Unfortunately messages like this need to be a part of blockbuster superhero films, as an emotional drama simply doesn’t appeal to the masses. Sad, but the reality we live in. Mudbound starts slow but it is soon evident that the film has a powerful theme without seeming preachy in any sense. The cyclical nature also puts a new spin on the concept of showing a later or last scene being shown at the beginning of the film, and it is heartbreaking.
1941: Pearl Harbour is attacked. One brother from a white family of farmers is called to service, as is one of their black… assistant. This is an opportunity to share common ground as both families have a family member fighting for their country.
However, the two families most certainly do not share common lives. Despite the year, the black family are still slaves. The label may be different, and they may be getting paid a pittance, but they serve their white masters without fail, to the point of being scared to not act nice to a white person for fear of retaliation from older folk who are still holding onto their racist beliefs: one of these includes one of the farmer’s father.
While slow paced and poorly edited, this becomes a powerful film as despite their classes, the commonalities between members of the two families mount up. Not only is there a son of each family at war, many other events occur that on the surface appear to bring them together, but the era of US history prevents this from being truly established.
The most obvious shared experience is when the men of war return home. The McAllen brother doesn’t see the colour of fellow veteran Ronsel, their shared experience of war enough for the two to bond despite their cultural surroundings. Ronsel finds it hard to believe and directly asks why McAllen is being so nice to him. The reason should bring these families together, but the skewed relationship remains; at one point the veteran McAllen actually rushes to get Rensol’s head down as he gives him a lift in the front of his pick-up when he sees his father on the road. Slavery may no longer exist, but the lives of the black family in this story have not improved at all. A black man doesn’t belong in the cab.
Whether the era is accurately represented (probably so, being based on a book) it is a sad tale of intolerance in an era where there ought have have been an increase; 
in understanding and empathy. Films with a message such as this are not in short number, but Mudbound presents it in a much more subtle way that resonates and lingers in the memory. Much like Sweet Country, this is another depiction of the disgusting treatment of fellow humans due to difference and the fear it causes in some. It isn’t peasant to reflect on the fact that both films are from an less than a hundred years ago.
One short.
5/6
11 Comments on “MUDBOUND [2017]”
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I really liked it. Glad you did, too.
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hit really hard, has really stuck in my memory this one
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It was a quiet narrative until the ending, the barn scene. I liked all the details. The mud, the body language of all the characters.
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Indeed, It was a bit slow but its still in my head. Fantastic film. I shoulda given it a 6/6 now that i think about it
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I’m glad you liked this too. This was heavy.
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It really was heavy hey. Some scenes are still in my head
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Not really accurately represented on two fronts for me. They act like post-war Germany of all places – is a safe haven for African Americans.. please. it was in no such way. And then Mary J’s character wearing a pair of designer sun glasses as a share croppers wife. Those two things just put it off kilter for me. Do I think I would go to backwoods Mississippi today and that couldn’t happen..no I think it could and that part was very realistic and I did really like both Hedland and Mitchells performances.. And cinematography was beautiful. So it was defnitely a mixed bag for me.
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I don’t think it was implying it was a safe haven so much, it was just that he was treated differently in Europe than in the states. And honestly, sunglasses are sunglasses to me.
But we are have out tastes!
I can see how it’d be a mixed bag seeing it liked that. I thought it was pretty damned good, if not a bit slow.
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No not you implying that.. The movie implying that it was some safe haven. I am not by any means, saying your review did anything wrong or you did by liking it. Please don’t think that. It was the movie itself. Again, a sharecropper wouldn’t be able to afford a pair of designer sunglasses let alone, probably sunglasses at all. And with my family having been through the war and all, the treatment of POC wasn’t some overwhelming love fest.. especially in Germany of all places.. That was what the story of the movie was..again, mind you, I probably wouldn’t trust backwoods Mississippi Today.. let alone back then. I believe every part of that.
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oh i realise you weren’t attacking my review in any way. I respect your opinion and agree with you now to be honest (:
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This sounds like a very good movie. A fine review.
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