The Unknown Country is a 2022 American drama film directed by Morrisa Maltz, from a screenplay by Maltz and a story by Maltz, Lily Gladstone, Lainey Bearkiller Shangreaux, and Vanara Taing. It stars Gladstone and Raymond Lee.
The film had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 13, 2022. It was theatrically released by Music Box Films in the United States on July 28, 2023. For her work, Gladstone won the Gotham Independent Film Award for Outstanding Lead Performance.
A standalone sequel, Jazzy, was released in February 2025.
Plot A grieving woman embarks on a road trip through the American Midwest after receiving an unexpected invitation to reunite with her estranged Oglala Lakota family.
Cast Lily Gladstone as Tana Raymond Lee as Isaac Richard Ray Whitman as Grandpa August Lainey Bearkiller Shangreaux as Lainey Devin Shangreaux as Devin Jasmine Bearkiller Shangreaux as Jazzy
Reception Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 82 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".
Accolades +AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.Gotham Independent Film AwardsNovember 27, 2023Outstanding Lead PerformanceLily GladstoneDenver International Film FestivalNovember 12, 2022American Independent Award – Best Feature FilmThe Unknown CountryHonorable MentionSouth by SouthwestMarch 20, 2022SXSW Adam Yauch Hörnblowér AwardCinema Eye HonorsJanuary 12, 2024Heterodox AwardAmericana Film FestMarch 15, 2023Audience Award – NextMontclair Film FestivalOctober 30, 2022Future/NowHell's Half Mile Film & Music FestivalSeptember 25, 2022Jury Award – Best FeatureOutstanding Achievement in EditingVanara TaingChamps-Élysées Film FestivalJune 28, 2022Longs métrages américainsThe Unknown CountryCalgary International Film FestivalOctober 2, 2022International Narrative Competition
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