lauranielsen-15072 This movie had a great premise and could have been great. It started out ok, but just got worse and worse. A lot of things in the story line didn'make sense (example: she was incredibly smitten with her husband, which the viewer doesn't understand because he's portrayed as a jerk). The scene with the piano just drove me crazy! It was SOO obvious the director was trying to be artsy. It reminded me of a Counting Crows video (puke!). Another miss: the horribly cliche Native American boy (including his Kmart bought costume). At times the main actress was good, other times she was horrible. All the other actors were even worse. The final editing was not well done. Cut-to's that were disjointed and didn't line up, or shots that needed another 20 seconds to establish the context or emotion. If this was made by some college kids, then I'd say bravo. In that aspect this movie would be impressive. But I suspect it had a little more experience and budget behind it. It almost seemed as if it was rushed out of production. If more time had been spent on the details and editing, it would have been a MUCH better movie. I will give credit to the writer though, as the story was very solid. Some people can see past all these errors, but people that expect a movie to leave an impression on them will find it too irritating.

mlz1998 I mean come on! Weeks wandering through the wilderness and her dress wasn't even the slightest bit dirty. I'll give it one star because 1. I like nature 2. She has nice teeth

bethlperson If you want your weekly dose of women being portrayed as weak, racism towards native Americans, unrealistic perceptions of rage towards God and zero concept of surviving a long trek in the winter this movie is for you. The actress is shown to not think traveling to CA to be wise but doesn't argue with her husband who constantly shuts her down because she needs to "support" him like a good little silent Christian woman. The woman doesn't even try to save her husband who is pointlessly killed by native Americans and they don't even go through their belongings. She aimlessly wanders through the woods like a little girl who has no concept of the situation she is in. Like she brings a huge portion of lace but no blanket. She doesn't bother taking any of her husbands clothes or a coat, gloves, socks or good shoes. And somehow survived a winter in basically a night gown and slippers with heels. She carries a huge wooden suitcase filled with none sense but can't manage other basic physical strength requirements. She also never attempts to make shelters at night or stay out of the elements.

Mandy Bohannan This movie has taken a lot of heat for historical inaccuracies and unrealistic circumstances (among other things). Still, it offers a good moral theme and does tell a compelling story without ruining the aforementioned with some sort of predictable, clichéd ending. It's worth a watch if you're the more patient type of viewer who enjoys an intellectual movie experience. Sit back and employ your "film reading" skills with this one. There's lots of symbolism. Though it does fall short on the type of action sequences that less sophisticated, mainstream audiences require these days, it does not disappoint with tension.