Little Woods focuses on a young woman named Ollie, played by Tessa Thompson, who’s on the last eight days of her probation after illegally crossing the border between North Dakota and Canada and is getting ready to leave her town. She tries avoiding numerous opportunities to go back to her old crime-filled life, though things become complicated when her sister Deb, played by Lily James, a single mother, turns to her for help when she’s in need of money and shelter. Determined to make sure Deb is alright before she goes, Ollie turns back to her old life one final time, only to find more trouble than she wanted.
Despite being a movie centered around crime, this is actually not a fast-paced, action-packed romp. Instead, this is more of a slow-moving character piece. It’s often meditative in feel and reflective in thought, though at the heart of it, and it can often feel very somber. And for some, that serious feel may be a little off-putting. Though at the heart of it is a really great drama that centers on the relationship between two troubled sisters.
But that’s not to say this film can’t be intense, because there are definitely plenty of moments where suspense is masterfully built up. There’s a sense of dread that Ollie is going to get caught back up permanently in her old life, especially as she’s seen engaging in certain activities that she was really trying to avoid. The consequences of what may happen if she gets too in over her head are more than apparent, and a lot of the tension derives from knowing that. The film will have higher bursts of energy, particularly during a subplot involving a drug dealer played by Luke Kirby, but it never feels over-the-top or a jarring shift from the film’s overall quieter tone.
Driving this entire film are the performances of Tessa Thompson and Lily James, who both give some truly standout work here. They are both extremely broken individuals, each going through their own hardships. And a lot of the film focuses on just how each of them deals with their individual troubles and how their differing attitudes affect their relationship with one another. Thompson is by far the more commanding of the two, giving one of her best performances of all-time here, taking control of each situation as best as she can, allowing her to hit some real emotional highs.
And these two characters aren’t just sympathetic because of the performances, but also for just how great they’re written. The film explores some great themes that are relevant to real world issues, most notably the treatment of those less fortunate than others, and what they have to do to survive. These are two characters who don’t have a whole lot going for them, and were never brought up in a great living situation. Yet, the film doesn’t beg the audience for sympathy. Rather, it’s through their general attitudes, and willingness to push through their unfortunate circumstances that make them so compelling to watch, and so easy to be invested in their story.
Little Woods is a small film that presents itself like it may be more of an action-packed crime drama but is actually a slower-moving character drama, taking as much time to be in the moment with its characters as possible. The film is led by a pair of excellent performances from Tessa Thompson and Lily James, with Thompson in particular giving one of her finest performances. Highly emotional, the film touches upon not only themes of family, but timely social themes that will make it accessible to watch for years to come, and a repeatedly gripping experience.
Recommendation: Watch It
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