An Italian-French-Dutch-Mexican coproduction, Land, written and directed by Babak Jalali and starring Rod Rondeaux, Florence Klein, Wilma Pelly, James Coleman, will celebrate its world premiere in the Panorama section of the 68th Berlin Film Festival. Born in 1978, Babak Jalali was born in Iran but grew up in London. This is his third feature film and focuses on the Denetclaws, a family of Native Americans from New Mexico. The film tells about an America which is current yet hidden, a land we know little about as it is rarely narrated.

The indigenous Denetclaw family lives on the Prairie Wolf reservation. Wesley, one of three adult brothers, is an alcoholic. Since alcohol is forbidden within the boundaries of the reservation, his mother drops him off every morning in front of a liquor store at the border where he spends the rest of the day knocking back beer. The eldest brother Raymond works on a cattle ranch. In the evening, the family silently gathers in front of the TV to watch ‘Bonanza’. When they receive the news that Floyd, the youngest Denetclaw and commander of a unit in Afghanistan has been killed in action, they find themselves confronted with the U.S. government’s absurd set of rules and measures regarding the repatriation of his body. Raymond, Wesley and their relatives have to think carefully about what is important – both for them as a family and as members of a marginalised group. 

Land is produced by Asmara Films (Italy), the cup of tea and To Be Continued (France), Topkapi Films (The Netherlands), Piano (Mexico) with Rai Cinema. It was developed in collaboration with Torino Film Lab - FrameWork, Paris Project, Sofia Meetings, and New Cinema Network Roma; with the support of Eurimages, CNC Aide aux Cinémas du Monde, Torino Film Lab, MiBACT - DGC, The Netherlands Film Fund, and DOHA Film Institute; in association with Banca del Fucino and in collaboration with Bac Films.