The Levelling

(United Kingdom, directed by Hope Dickson Leach)

Filmmakers usually focus on city dwellers. British social realist filmmakers in particular; Ken Loach and Mike Leigh built entire careers chronicling the ups and (usually) downs of struggling urbanites. First time director Hope Dickson Leach takes a different approach; her movie about a young vet returning to her scattered family farm and estranged father is a rural drama in every way. Ellie Kendrick (Game of Thrones) is very convincing as a tough young woman trying to prevent an agricultural/family drama. One of the best British debut movies I’ve seen in a long time!