A review by robertrivasplata
This Country: Searching for Home in (Very) Rural America by Navied Mahdavian

adventurous dark emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

Story of a couple of artists (filmmaker & cartoonist) who move to the country for cheaper housing and all around country living vibes. The introduction telling us that the rural living would only last them 3 years gives a sense of foreboding. What tragedy is being foreshadowed? Spoiler alert: nothing too dangerous, crazy, or dramatic happens. Mahdavian does a really good job of showing the beauty and charm of their corner of Idaho, while also showing the difficulties (cultural and environmental) of living there. I was constantly thinking “wouldn't be me here”, or judging Mahdavian and his wife for stupid reasons (e.g. “who can't tell a jay from a bluebird?”). I was surprised that the 4 hour trip to the clinic when the couple were trying to have children wasn't what convinced them to go back to urban living. Whenever I'm in a charming small town or appealing rural area I always think “how far to the nearest hospital?” followed by “how far is the grocery store?” & “Where is the library?” If I were doing programming for that little theater, it would take probably two requests for John Wayne movies for me to screen The Quiet Man, followed by The Shootist, and then True Grit & then I'd probably try to screen Seven Samurai and Jeremiah Johnson too. But that's less judgment than wishful thinking. Makes me grateful for the tiny weird-cinema theater in my mid-sized city.