Arriving shortly is one of the finest films of the fall, the Terrence Malick-produced, A.J. Edwards-directed The Better Angels, which takes a stunning look at the childhood of Abraham Lincoln. Starring Jason Clarke, Diane Kruger, Brit Marling, Wes Bentley, newcomer Braydon Denney, the full-length theatrical trailer has now arrived, alongside a new poster.
We said in our full review, which one can find a snippet of in the new trailer and poster, “The style of Malick has long since been a comparison point in many critical examinations, as of late hitting something of a fever pitch. While I rarely find such claims to be of real merit, a new drama premiering at Sundance does more than proudly wear this style on its sleeve, instead using the auteur as a collaborator and key member of the creative process: The Better Angels, produced by Malick and directed by a To the Wonder editor, A.J. Edwards, makes for a sublime, transfixing, and informative look at the early life of Abraham Lincoln.”
Check out the new trailer and poster below, and for more on the production of the film, read our extensive interview with the director here.
Indiana, 1817. The entire nation, only 40 years old and a few years removed from a second war of independence, is raw. Men, women, and children alike must battle nature and disease to survive in remote log cabins. This is young Abraham Lincoln’s world. Spanning three years of the future president’s childhood, The Better Angels explores his family, the hardships that shaped him, the tragedy that marked him forever, and the two women who guided him to immortality.
Written and directed by A.J. Edwards, THE BETTER ANGELS delves into visual and narrative poetry to express the Lincolns’ world. The stark wilderness they inhabit comes alive in stunning black-and-white cinematography, and the story follows the lyrical course of the characters, who struggle physically and emotionally. They are forced to take on new additions to the family, learning what acceptance and empathy really mean. With an elegant touch and extreme attention to historical accuracy, Edwards shows the austerity of the era and reveals what shaped one of history’s most distinctive leaders.
The Better Angels opens on November 7th.