An Unfinished Life

Einar Gilkyson lives a withdrawn life on a Wyoming ranch, still consumed by grief over the death of his son years earlier. His only company is Mitch Bradley, an old friend and ranch hand who survived a severe bear attack. Einar has cut off contact with his daughter-in-law Jean, holding her responsible for his son's death. Jean then arrives unannounced, penniless and fleeing an abusive boyfriend, together with her eleven-year-old daughter Griff, a granddaughter Einar never knew existed. Taking them in reluctantly, Einar finds his solitude disturbed as old resentments rise again, though Griff's presence gradually changes the household. The arrival of Jean's volatile ex-boyfriend puts the fragile new arrangement under strain.

Lasse Hallström directed the film, the eighth of the twenty features listed for him, following The Shipping News and preceding Casanova. Mark Spragg and Virginia Korus Spragg wrote the screenplay. Robert Redford plays Einar, Jennifer Lopez plays Jean, Morgan Freeman plays Mitch, and Becca Gardner plays Griff, with Josh Lucas and Damian Lewis in supporting roles.

Released in September 2005, the drama runs 108 minutes and was made for about 30 million US dollars, earning roughly 19 million worldwide. On IMDb it holds 7 out of 10 from around 36,000 votes, while on TMDB it has 6.8 out of 10 from about 724 votes. A critics' rating of 6.1 out of 10 from 139 reviews places it below the wider audience scores.