French filmmaker Frédéric Farrucci delivers an unflinching exploration of modern-day Corsica in The Mohican, blending elements of neo-Western cinema with the political tensions of land exploitation. The film serves as both a personal survival story and an allegory of resistance, with the landscape becoming a battleground where tradition confronts corruption.
At the heart of The Mohican is Joseph Cardelli (Alexis Manenti), one of the last remaining goatherds on the Corsican coast. Joseph’s land is coveted by local mafia figures eager to transform the picturesque coastline into luxury real estate. While the surrounding properties have already fallen into their grasp, Joseph remains the last holdout, though the mafia’s patience is wearing thin.
Initially, the pressure on Joseph comes in the form of seemingly polite, though persistent, offers to sell his land. When he refuses, the tone shifts, and the once amicable negotiations are replaced by more overt threats.
Farrucci deliberately stages the confrontation off-camera, building tension through implication rather than explicit violence. However, Joseph’s refusal and mishandled gun eventually forces him into a desperate flight, setting the stage for a cat-and-mouse chase through Corsica’s rugged terrain.
What begins as a pastoral social drama transforms into a suspenseful thriller, evoking echoes of The Fugitive, albeit with a distinctly Western flavor. Joseph’s frantic escape across the island upends the idyllic image of Corsica, exposing an undercurrent of violence that contrasts sharply with the holidaying French tourists who remain oblivious to the chaos.
As the pursuit intensifies, Joseph is drawn deeper into conflict, enlisting the help of an old friend and finding himself increasingly entangled with local criminal elements. The involvement…
