The 56-year-old Thornton, who previously directed "All the Pretty Horses" and "Sling Blade," brought the movie to the Berlin International Film Festival for its premiere Monday. It's one of 18 films competing for the festival's Golden Bear award.
The cast includes Thornton, John Hurt, Robert Duvall and Kevin Bacon.
Thornton said he had been complaining about movies in America -- so "instead of complaining, I decided to just write one and direct it."
He says he thinks he will go on to direct more -- "but I probably won't direct the next Star Trek movie or anything like that."
