The Land Beyond the Sunset

Starring: Martin Fuller, Mrs. William Bechtel, Walter Edwin, Ethel Jewett, Elizabeth Miller, Gladys Du Pell, Margery Bonnery Erskine
Directed by: Harold M. Shaw
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Short, Drama, Fantasy
Length: 14 minutes
1912

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A poor boy (Martin Fuller) suffers at the hand of his grandmother (Mrs. William Bechtel). When he goes with a social group on a picnic, he imagines a better life for himself.

Review:

Tim: I was surprised at how emotional this melodramatic little film turned out to be. It was genuinely sad and depressing in certain moments. Overall, it is an interesting little film, and I actually enjoyed it quite a bit.

Joe, the newsboy, is our protagonist, and he makes me sad. He's extremely poor (as noted by the rags he wears for clothing). He tries to sell newspapers to make ends meet, but newspapers sold by poor boys aren't exactly a hot item. When a little girl convinces her mother to give the boy some money, it seems like a wonderful present. I was not prepared for what happens next (spoilers, I suppose, but this is a 14 minute film, so not a major one). His grandmother, who seems to possibly be an alcoholic, hits the boy and takes his money. This was legitimately sad, and it made me feel a bit depressed about the harsh reality this film depicts and that millions of children live through every day.

The film changes pace a bit when Joe travels with a social group outside of the slums and visits a beautiful wooded area. He has a nice picnic lunch, and hears a beautiful story about fairies and a "land beyond the sunset" where life is better. It's all very beautiful to watch a boy with nothing dream about a life where his dreams would come true. I won't spoil the next part of the film, but the conclusion is unexpected, powerful, and memorable. I really loved how the film ended. It touches people on an emotional level. The conclusion was ahead of its time.

So often, the early films of cinema are interesting, but not exactly entertaining. That is not true with The Land Beyond the Sunset. In 14 minutes, this movie hits more emotional notes than many films do in 90+ minutes. This is a very good movie, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: N/A



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: N/A