Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2014

Bob (Casey Affleck) breaks out of prison in ‘70s Texas in a doomed attempt to get back to Ruth (the constantly surprising Rooney Mara) and the daughter he’s never seen. He was inside for a robbery gone wrong, in which he took the blame for Ruth’s winging a lawman in the ensuing shootout. Said lawman (Ben Foster), a decent sort, has a sweet spot for Ruth. If this movie were a song, it’d be a plaintive Hank Williams number. There’s not much of a plot in this visually striking tone poem. Fans of Terrence Malik, whom promising director David Lowery is clearly channeling, may have the best mindset to enjoy it.

Japanese title: Saints: Yakusoku no Hate. (105 min)