What would you do for your family? That’s a question that is at the heart of a new film, The Weight, which opens on Friday. It’s a depression-era tale of some desperate men and the lengths they’ll go to provide for their families.

We pick up in 1933, well into the Great Depression. Samuel Murphy (Ethan Hawke) is a single father trying to provide for his daughter. But work isn’t easy to find, and money is a luxury. One day after church they return home to find themselves evicted. With the little money he has, Samuel pursues a new place to live, getting into a fight along the way. He lands in jail, and soon in prison.

Samuel is attached to a work camp run by Clancy (Russell Crowe). He is determined to work hard and earn his release, hoping it’s in time to prevent his daughter from going into the adoption system. His hard work and his skill impress Clancy, who soon offers him a bargain.

Samuel and a hand-picked group of men are given a special assignment. It’s dangerous, but potentially lucrative. More importantly for Samuel, it would mean an end to his sentence and a chance to get back to his daughter. It’s an offer that’s too-good-too-be-true, which turns out to be the case out in the middle of the wilderness.

This new film comes from director Padraic McKinley, who does a nice job of bringing the story and the period to life. The script comes from Matthew Booi, Matthew Chapman, and Shelby Gains, and focuses on building up Samuel and his life with his daughter. You feel his desperation and his love for her, and how it’s driving him through some desperate circumstances.

Crowe does a nice job in a few sequences. It’s not hard to see the twists coming, but he settles into the role nicely. I also quite enjoyed Julia Jones, who plays a native woman that is rescued by Samuel and his crew and becomes a part of their mission. She plays well off Hawke in what could have been a thankless part.

But the film is carried by Hawke. He really sinks into the role and brings Samuel and his plight to life. You’re bought into him and his journey, which is what makes the conclusion of the film even more satisfying.

It’s not a perfect film. It’s a bit dry at times and it’s thin on character. While Samuel is well grounded and defined, most of the others on his crew are somewhat forgettable and poorly drawn. But it’s not enough to detract from what becomes a sturdy and enjoyable height film. This will be a nice bit of counterprogramming in mid-September.

The Weight opens nationwide on Friday, September 18.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.