Set during and after World War 2, Mudbound follows the lives of two families on a farm in Mississippi. Both families, one white and one black have returning soldiers from the war and the focus is on farming, poverty, racism and the treatment of war veterans.

Netflix released Mudbound in 2017 and it is a shame I have not found it until now. Whilst I would warn you that it’s themes can be depressing, its palette dour and the weather interminable it is a film with strong performances and a compelling narrative.

The two families documented here cover a huge variety of human behaviour. Laura McAllan (Carey Mulligan) is a sheltered wife whose world view is opened out, Henry McAllan (Jason Clarke) is a stubborn man who dreams of being a prosperous farm owner, his brother Jamie (Garrett Hedlund) is a dreamer damaged by the war whilst their father Pappy (Jonathan Banks) is a bitter racist. Hap and Florence Jackson (Rob Morgan and Mary J. Blige) are stoic parents trying to make a better life for their children whilst Ronsel (Jason Mitchell), their eldest, becomes a tank commander during the war and finds it difficult to be treated like a second class citizen on his return.

Hedlund and Mitchell’s performances stand above all the others as it is the friendship they find as two returning soldiers that has the most impact on both of the families lives.

One of the more transcendent aspects of the presentation is the multi person narration that features throughout. It very much reminded me of Terence Malick’s The Thin Red Line. A film that also deals with War and finding beauty in despair. And these moments really resonate as the difficult story unfolds.