God's Own Country
A raw, tactile romance set against the harsh windswept moors of Yorkshire. Amidst mud, blood, and isolation, a repressed sheep farmer finds tenderness and transformation in the arrival of a Romanian migrant worker.
God's Own Country
God's Own Country
31 August 2017 United Kingdom 105 min ⭐ 7.8 (961)
Director: Francis Lee
Cast: Josh O'Connor, Alec Secăreanu, Gemma Jones, Ian Hart, Harry Lister Smith
Drama Romance
Transformation through Intimacy Landscape as Character Xenophobia and Belonging Duty vs. Freedom
Box Office: $2,559,939

God's Own Country - Characters & Cast

Character Analysis

Johnny Saxby

Josh O'Connor

Archetype: The Repressed Antihero
Key Trait: Emotional Repression

Motivation

Initially motivated by a desire to numb his pain and fulfill obligation; later motivated by love and a desire to build a meaningful life.

Character Arc

Starts as angry, self-destructive, and emotionally numb. Through his relationship with Gheorghe, he learns to be vulnerable, takes responsibility for his life, and ultimately breaks the cycle of bitterness to become a loving partner and capable farm owner.

Gheorghe Ionescu

Alec Secăreanu

Archetype: The Nurturing Outsider
Key Trait: Gentle Strength

Motivation

Survival, finding a place to belong, and the instinct to nurture living things.

Character Arc

Arrives as a stoic stranger facing prejudice. He asserts his dignity and slowly opens his heart to Johnny, acting as the catalyst for the farm's and Johnny's transformation. He eventually finds a home where he is valued.

Martin Saxby

Ian Hart

Archetype: The Ailing Patriarch
Key Trait: Bitter Pragmatism

Motivation

Legacy and the survival of the family farm.

Character Arc

A bitter, disabled man who is harsh on his son. After a second stroke and seeing Johnny's maturation, he softens, offering a silent but crucial nod of approval for Johnny to run the farm his way.

Cast

Josh O'Connor as Johnny Saxby
Alec Secăreanu as Gheorghe Ionescu
Gemma Jones as Deidre Saxby
Ian Hart as Martin Saxby
Harry Lister Smith as Trainee Auctioneer
Patsy Ferran as Robyn
Naveed Choudhry as Male Nurse
Stefan Dermendjiev as Bearded Farm Worker
Moey Hassan as Taxi Driver
Melanie Kilburn as Gloria
John McCrea as University Boy
Alexander Suvandjiev as Young Farm Worker
Liam Thomas as Glen
Sarah White as Joy