Prohibition from the producer’s perspective

Lawless is a film set in  the early 30’s in Franklin County, Virginia, and based on the historical novel The Wettest County in the World, by Matt Bondurant, grandson of our three protagonists, the infamous Bondurant brothers, who were colourful and notorious bootleggers. It is about prohibition but set up from the producer’s perspective.
The movie is about violent times and reflects that, but it is also beautifully atmospheric. Sets and costumes are richly detailed and the landscape gorgeous. Tom Hardy stands out as the laconic older brother to the feisty but naive Shia Lebeouf. The women, played by Mia Wasikowska and Jessica Chastain, also add their strength of character. Yes, it is at times very violent, but there is also comedy and sweet romance woven in. The director and most of the actors are Australian or British which gives the picture a bit of a different feel than Hollywood standard, and frankly, it’s a just a good story about a real family.