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Montana film based on James Lee Burke story heads to Sundance

December 31, 2021 /

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God’s Country,” a feature film based on a short story by Missoula author James Lee Burke will premiere at Sundance Film Festival next month with Thandiwe Newton (“Westworld”) in the lead role.

The movie is adapted from the longtime Lolo resident’s story “Winter Light.” In 2014, Los Angeles-based director Julian Higgins came to the Missoula area to shoot a half-hour version, which follows a college professor who enters into a conflict with two hunters who trespass on his property.

Burke added that he was thankful for the support Gov. Steve Bullock gave when it was in early development. It was awarded $200,000 from the Big Sky Grant Program by the Montana Film Office in the Department of Commerce.