Loin des hommes 2015

Peter Debruge, Variety: Writer-director David Oelhoffen's idea of approaching this potent two-hander as an Algeria-set horse opera proves as inspired as it is unexpected. Read more

Adam Nayman, AV Club: The actual physical locations in Far From Men are stunning, and Oelhoffen smartly emphasizes the emptiness of the desert, which seems to stretch on infinitely behind the characters. Read more

Boyd van Hoeij, Hollywood Reporter: The original's existentialist undertow is mostly lost in shallow characterizations and scenes that perfunctorily tip their hat to genre tropes rather than illuminating the characters. Read more

Michael Rechtshaffen, Los Angeles Times: Surprisingly affecting. Read more

Manohla Dargis, New York Times: Camus sets the movie's initial course, but Mr. Oelhoffen resolutely steers it home with political context, historical hindsight, an unambiguous moral imperative and a pair of well-matched performances; put another way, he makes the story his own. Read more

Cath Clarke, Time Out: Mortensen's post-Lord of the Rings choices have been an idiosyncratic mix: His my-way-or-the-highway approach doesn't always pay off, but it does here with engrossing results. Read more

Nick Schager, Village Voice: Far From Men crafts a haunting atmosphere of alienation for its story of outcasts forging an unlikely bond. Read more

Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine/Vulture: What makes it work is the solemn efficiency of director David Oelhoffen's storytelling and the quiet intensity of the two leads: The rough tenderness of Mortensen's gaze plays off well against Kateb's conflicted demeanor. Read more