Western

February 25, 2018 · Knoxville Museum of Art · 2:00 p.m.

An intense, slow-burning thriller, Western follows a group of German construction workers installing a hydroelectric plant in remote rural Bulgaria. The foreign land awakens the men’s sense of adventure, but tensions mount when, Meinhard, the strong, silent and newcomer to the group, starts mixing with the local villagers. The two sides speak different languages and share a troubled history. Can they learn to trust each other — or is the stage being set for a showdown?

“There are no stagecoaches or six-shooters in this sharp, simmering drama of German-Bulgarian discord, but the spirit of John Ford graces it.” — Guy Lodge, Variety

“A stunning existential study of masculinity.” — Sight and Sound

“A powerful, deeply human and intricately political drama… reminiscent of Claire Denis’s Foreign Legion cine-poem, Beau Travail.” — Daniel Kasman, Mubi Notebook

About the Filmmakers

Valeska Grisebach was born in Bremen, Germany. She is a graduate of the Vienna Film Academy, where she trained in directing under Michael Haneke. Her features include Be My Star (2001), which won a FIPRESCI Critics’ Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Longing (2006).