The Claim is a fictional feature film by British arthouse director Michael Winterbottom. It takes place in Califrnia Sierras in the late 19th century, and is very loosely based on Hardy's the Mayor Of Casterbridge.
The Claim is about how two people change a growing town known as Kingdom Come. One represents the railroads, which are trying to decide where to go through the Sierras. If they decide to build the railroad through Kingdom Come, the owner of the town will become (more) rich. The other person relates to the owner of the town's past.
The story of the film is compelling, but what I really liked was the use of imagery. In one scene, a horse becomes engulfed in flames, and is seen running away in slow motion. It is not clear where the horse is going or what it is trying to do, but it is doomed. That is the sort of thing you think about long after seeing a film. The Claim is filled with images like that.
