The Free World

Director: Jason Lew
Screenwriters: Jason Lew

Institute History

Description

Mo Lundy (Boyd Holbrook) is a man attempting to move past a brutal two-decade stint in prison for a crime he didn't commit. He spends his days caring for abused animals at a shelter while trying in vain to reintegrate into a world that feels utterly foreign to him. A chance encounter with Doris (Elizabeth Moss), an enigmatic kindred spirit equally scarred by violence, lands him in a situation where choosing to do the right thing means risking his hard-won freedom and his life.

Adroitly written and directed by Jason Lew and dripping with atmosphere and dread, The Free World is a harrowing tale of two lost souls finding solace in each other. Grounded by two intimate and affecting performances from Holbrook and Moss, along with excellent supporting turns from Octavia Spencer and Sung Kang, this neo-Southern Gothic tale never feels less than achingly real.

— Carlos Hatcher

Screening Details

As you use our Online Archives, please understand that the information presented from Festivals, Labs, and other activities is taken directly from official publications from each year. While this information is limited and doesn't necessarily represent the full list of participants (e.g. actors and crew), it is the list given to us by the main film/play/project contact at the time, based on the space restrictions of our publications. Each entry in the Online Archives is meant as a historical record of a particular film, play, or project at the time of its involvement with Sundance Institute. For this reason, we can only amend an entry if a name is misspelled, or if the entry does not correctly reflect the original publication. If you have questions or comments, please email [email protected]