“A POIGNANT, UNDERSTATED CHARACTER STUDY ABOUT THE DESTRUCTIVE COLLISION OF NOSTALGIA AND REGRET…. KRISHA FAIRCHILD GIVES A DEVASTATING PERFORMANCE”, INDIEWIRE
“PITCH PERFECT….A DARKLY FRACTURED FAIRY TALE”, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
“KRISHA FAIRCHILD GIVES ONE OF THE BEST PERFORMANCES BY AN ACTRESS ONSCREEN EVER”, FILM THREAT
“FREELAND IS AN UNADULTERATED SUCCESS'“, VARIETY
“A FEROCIOUS FEATURE DEBUT”, A MOVEABLE FEST
NOW AVAILABLE ON DEMAND ALMOST EVERYWHERE
Devi has been breeding legendary pot strains for decades, farming by day and getting stoned by night, fully expecting to live out her days on the remote homestead she built herself. But when cannabis is legalized, the fragile balance of her whole idyllic life is thrown into disarray. Forced to confront the rapidly changing realities of the weed industry, she fights to go legal in an increasingly hostile landscape that is threatening her whole livelihood.
In tour-de-force performance, Krisha Fairchild (Devi) brings the timely, real-world story of black-market growers battling to survive to the screen. Featuring a heart-breaking turn by John Craven as an old flame from Devi’s commune days, and Frank Mosley and Lily Gladstone as young workers adrift and bringing in the harvest, the film is full of standout performances that bring this very real community of fiercely independent characters to life.
Set against the lush backdrop of the redwood forests of Northern California, Mario Furloni's breathtaking cinematography pulls us into this isolated community in Humboldt County, the mythical birthplace of weed. Shot on off-the-grid pot farms during the actual harvest, directors Mario Furloni and Kate McLean masterfully bring their skills as documentarians to the forefront in making their first fictional feature, imbuing this quiet and emotional thriller with a deep and empathetic authenticity, layered throughout with a ravishing score by William Ryan Fritch and captivating sound design by Peter Albrechtsen. Edited by Chris Donlon and Sara Newens. Sound and lighting, and additional camera by Patrick Kollman. Production design by Alexander Zane Irwin and Lauren Donlon. Field produced by Claire Weissbluth. Color by Robert Arnold. Produced by Laura Heberton.
Executive Producers: Gill Holland, Stu Pollard, Bailey Smith, Mark Shlomchik, Debbie Resnick, Jeff Resnick, Stefanie Zeldin Sigal, Rob Sigal, Ben Speiser.
Co-Producers: Jason Sussberg, Matthew Mills, Leslie Silberstein. Released by Dark Star Pictures.