It takes a lot of confidence for a director to pay homage to John Ford's "The Searchers" (1956), and in the case of Thomas Bidegain's "Les Cowboys" it is not altogether unwarranted.

Bidegain and cinematographer Arnaud Potier speak multitudes with wide-angle, slow-panning shots that immerse us in a post-9/11 quagmire that's never less than utterly personal.

"Les Cowboys" keeps you off-kilter from the start.

It can be a bit clunky especially with its use of time lapses and setting changes. But if you’re able to navigate those storytelling hurdles “Les Cowboys” gives you plenty of emotional meat to chew on.