Country

Lange takes the reins as co-producer and tower of matriarchal strength in a terrific movie. COUNTRY details the plight of the 1980s farmer, presenting an Iowan family that stands up to a faceless government bureaucracy that threatens their land. Effective performances and a strong message make this project seem more like a PBS documentary than a staged, rehearsed production--the supreme compliment. Lange received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a year when almost everyone--Lange, Spacek, Field--was on a back-to-the-earth kick.