The Emigrants (1971)

One of the very few foreign-language films to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, the once-popular The Emigrants seems to have been forgotten in the decades since its release. Part of this may be due to the fact that the original subtitled version of the film is difficult to find, and the more accessible dubbed version is vastly inferior. Still, even the latter features much of Jan Troell's sometimes-dazzling cinematography, with its sweeping vistas of the alternately freezing and searing Minnesota landscape. While Troell's direction sometimes goes for the obvious, he still paints a beautiful, if often bleak and unrelenting, picture and gives the film the epic sweep it demands while still creating an intimate portrait of a determined and loving family. As the heads of that family, Liv Ullmann and Max von Sydow could not be better. Ullmann brings her special talents to bear here, using her ability to be both expressive and reserved at practically the same time, and her natural beauty has rarely been captured so effectively. Von Sydow creates a towering figure, but one with surprising gentleness when necessary. While the film's endless trials may daunt some viewers, it is a rewarding experience for those who can stick with it. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide