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Holy Lands is a drama-comedy film directed by Amanda Sthers in 2017, based on her novel “Les Terres Saintes”. The film features an ensemble cast including Tom Hollander, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and James Caan, amongst others. The movie is set in various countries, including Israel, France, and the United States. The story follows the lives of Harry Rosenmerck (played by James Caan), a Jewish-American cardiologist who decides to leave everything behind and settle in Nazareth, Israel, to become a pig farmer, and his family, who live in different parts of the world.

Harry is a non-practising Jew who is rebellious, outspoken, and doesn't hesitate to go against the grain. In Israel, he encounters a French Arab Christian, who begins to court him into the Christian religion. Meanwhile, back in New York, Harry’s ex-wife Monica (played by Rosanna Arquette) tries to cope with life after their divorce while dealing with their estranged son, David (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers), who is an LGBTQ+ artist living in San Francisco.

The movie explores several themes such as love, loss, grief, religion, culture, and family dynamics. The depiction of the various characters and the situations they find themselves in is a fusion of comedy and drama that creates an emotional rollercoaster for the viewer. The narrative switches between Nazareth, Paris, New York and San Francisco, and this keeps the movie dynamic and interesting.

The cinematography of Holy Lands is top-notch. The depiction of Israel’s landscapes is well captured, and it reflects both the beauty and the challenges of farming in that terrain. The colours used give the impression of a warm, colourful and vibrant country. There is also an exploration of the religious wariness in Israel, and this is seen in how some religious leaders react to Harry’s pursuit of pig farming (which is deemed unacceptable according to Jewish dietary laws).

The performances in Holy Lands are excellent. James Caan stands out with his portrayal of Rosenmerck. HIS character is witty, bold and sometimes abrasive, but it's his innate sense of vulnerability that makes him endearing. Jonathan Rhys Meyers delivers a strong performance as David, who is still grappling with his father’s abandonment and shunning of his lifestyle. Tom Hollander, who portrays Moshe, a Rabbi with a crisis of faith, is also impressive in his portrayal of a man of the cloth's humanity.

At its core, Holy Lands tells a story of acceptance, forgiveness and growth. The Rosenmerck family must confront their issues at various points, and it’s through these resolutions that they find the much-needed closure. Themes surrounding the LGBTQ+ community are delicately woven into the narrative, and the movie addresses the need for accepting and loving people regardless of their sexual orientation.

Overall, Holy Lands is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and leave you feeling better than when you began. The religious undertones in the storyline do not make it heavy-handed or preachy, but rather, they add to the richness of the narrative. It's a movie that challenges societal norms concerning religion, sexuality, and family dynamics. With an incredible cast, stunning cinematography, and a powerful narrative, Holy Lands will leave an impression on the viewer.

Holy Lands is a 2018 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8 and a MetaScore of 33.