Park City is slowly filling with celebs, journalists, photographers and more for the Sundance Film Festival, where over the next week or so, some of the year’s buzziest films will make their debut. And one that is already gaining attention is “The Better Angels,” because of two words associated with it: Terrence Malick.
While it’s not helmed by the press-shy director, it does bear his name as a producer, and director A.J. Edwards—who worked on “The New World,” “The Tree of Life” and “To the Wonder“—has clearly been influenced by Malick’s unique tone and mood. However, while Malick’s recent films have tended to explore big idea themes on life and love, Edwards’ movie instead takes a look at the life of young Abraham Lincoln (played by Braydon Denney), and the events that formed the foundation of the great man he would become. And in this scene, we see Abe’s father Tom Lincoln (Jason Clarke) insist his son work the fields, instead of reading a book.
Co-starring Diane Kruger and Brit Marling, “The Better Angels” screens this weekend at Sundance. Watch below.