Doing big time in little Texas

A ghostly, dusty, quietly moving tale of life in rural Texas sometime in the 20th century, Ain't Them Bodies Saints echoes the work of Terrence Malick and heralds the arrival of a prodigious new talent of US cinema in director David Lowery.

Harking back to the heyday of '70s filmmaking, the conventionally plotted story focuses on outlaws Bob Muldoon (Casey Affleck) and Ruth Guthrie (Rooney Mara), partners in small-time crime until they're cornered by the police and Bob is sent to jail.

In prison he writes to the pregnant Ruth, telling her to wait for him - he'll get out and see her again.

Meanwhile, Ruth gives birth to their daughter Sylvie and, with the help of Bob's mentor Skirret (Keith Carradine), sets up a new life, quietly dreaming of Bob's return.

She's watched by local cop Patrick Wheeler (Ben Foster), who carries an unrequited torch for her. With a keen eye for the landscape of his story and a poetic visual sensibility, Lowery creates a richly cinematic portrait of small lives against the backdrop of a sprawling, dust-covered, softly sun-dappled corner of the Lone Star state.

Ain't Them Bodies Saints both announces Lowery as a talented director with a unique visual sense while fitting comfortably within the period of US cinema which it recalls - part Sam Peckinpah, part Malick.

The story may not be the most original or innovative but it makes up for this with its strong sense of place and talented cast. Affleck has kept himself on the edges of the mainstream, delivering his mumbling mix of innocence and menace in the service of a host of low-key but singular new directors, and here he holds attention and sympathy throughout.

He's counterbalanced by Foster as lawman Wheeler, Mara's quiet strength and a too short performance from veteran Carradine to create a set of complicated yet unassuming characters.

It seems to be a small, easily forgotten romantic meditation but there's something about it that clings to the heart long after it has flickered its way off the screen.

Ain't Them Bodies Saints opens at cinemas today