Little Woods (2019)

Little Woods stars Tessa Thompson as Oleander (a.k.a. Ollie), a woman living in North Dakota who’s on probation for selling medication to townsfolk in an effort to provide them access to healthcare. Ollie has left this part of her life behind her after getting caught, but this changes when her sister Deb (Lily James) comes to her in a desperate plea for help. She needs to find a way to afford an abortion, and fast. In an effort to help her sister, Ollie returns to her crusade, only to suffer through various obstacles along the way. A brilliant feature debut by Nia DaCosta, tells a powerful story of family and the lengths people go to in order to protect their loved ones.

Little Woods is a fresh take on the western genre that both critiques the male-centric lens westerns are typically told through while touching upon important issues such as reproductive rights. The performances given by Thompson and James are outstanding and powerful in their subtlety and nuance. Though the acting is all-around fantastic, the two leading women make the film what it is, and the relationship between them acts as an emotional tether for the audience. They’re family, and despite any fights the two may have, they clearly love and care for one another deeply and would do anything to protect the other.

Ollie and Deb's actions are often dangerous, with huge risks involved, but the depth of their bond with each other makes these actions believable and understandable. It is impossible to not sympathize with these women and their struggles. Little Woods examines the misogyny and classism often inherent in the healthcare industry deftly, and this critique is vital to the overall story.